§ 6 and 7. Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Home Secretary (1), under what authority, legal or otherwise, police officers, as distinct from Customs officers, examine and/or take possession of papers and documents in the possession of a 1109 British subject arriving in this country; and what instructions have been given to the police if such a British subject refuses to permit examination or seizure?;
(2), whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that when Miss Olive Budden arrived at Dover on the 18th January certain papers in her possession were handed by a Customs officer to a person describing himself as a police officer, and that, despite Miss Budden's protests, he refused to return the papers although the Customs officer when asked by Miss Budden stated that he had no complaint to make, but that it was a police matter; and, if so, under what authority the papers were detained?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSWhen Miss Budden arrived at Dover on the 18th January, it was found, on her luggage being examined in the ordinary course of their duty by the Customs officers, that she had a considerable number of documents relating to a body called the League against Imperialism. The attention of the police was drawn to these documents, and, as it appeared not unlikely that they contained subversive matter, a certain number were retained for examination. These were all returned to Miss Budden on the 22nd January.
§ Mr. JONESDid not a Scotland Yard detective stop this young lady and take away her documents; and what is the legal authority for such action in the case of a British subject returning to her own country?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIt is quite clear that, if the Customs officers find documents, as to which their opinion is doubtful, in the luggage of anyone, whether a British subject or otherwise, they are entitled to ask the police to look at the documents, and it is the duty of the police to examine any documents passing through if it is reasonably suspected that they contain subversive matter. That is in the course of carrying out their perfectly regular duties.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODThe normal duty of a Customs officer, surely, is not to examine papers to see whether they are doubtful? Is the right hon. Gentleman quite satisfied that this lady was not specially selected for this search, because she was supposed to belong to this particular league?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSWhen this lady passed through the Customs, she was undoubtedly recognised, and, when the Customs officials opened her luggage in the ordinary course of their duties, they found certain documents, and they asked the police, who were present, to look at those documents. That is how the documents came into the possession of the police.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not a very good thing that there was no Customs examination in force at Holyhead when the right hon. Gentleman was crossing over to Ireland and back before the War, and that his papers were not examined?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. and gallant Member has, for once in his career, made a mistake. I never crossed over from Holyhead to Ireland at any time before the War.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes the right hon. Gentleman only use threats against the Government on this side of St. George's Channel?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. and gallant Member is quite mistaken as to facts.
§ Mr. THURTLEHave the Customs officials any definitions to guide them as to what is subversive matter when they take action of this kind?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy hon. Friend behind me has supplied the answer.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIf the hon. Member wishes to go further into details in regard to the papers, I must have notice of the particular points.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs not this a very good advertisement for the league?
§ Mr. JONESWhat is the authority for the statement that the police were asked by the Customs officials to examine the papers in this young lady's attaché case? Is it not the fact that a Scotland Yard detective demanded to examine the 1111 papers, and that the young lady protested, and is that what you call British liberty?