§ 17. Captain HAROLD BALFOURasked the Home Secretary whether motorists receiving a warning from a police officer at the time of the alleged offence will continue under this revised procedure to have the option of refusing the warning and asking for a police prosecution?
§ Sir H. SAMUELA verbal warning is given by a police officer only in trivial cases which would not ordinarily be regarded as calling for report with a view to possible prosecution. The circumstances would, however, be specially reported if the person concerned took exception to the warning.
§ Mr. GODFREY NICHOLSONIs it not a fact that having been warned by a police officer, as I have been, the next time that I am in trouble with the police this warning will be held against me? Am I not to have a chance of appeal against the warning?
§ Sir H. SAMUELYes. If the hon. Member thought it advisable to take exception to the warning he would have it recorded, and then a prosecution could take place if the circumstances required.