§ 28. Major PROCTERasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that since the order as to the interrogation of suspects issued to the police, following the Savage inquiry, there has been an increase in the number of crimes of violence with which no arrest has been effected; and whether he proposes to rescind such order?
§ Sir H. SAMUELThe order which the hon. and gallant Member apparently has in mind was one issued to the Metro- 1804 politan Police on 1st August, 1928. It was provisional only, pending the report of the Royal Commission on Police Powers and Procedure; and following a recommendation made by the Commission it was revoked on 11th August, 1930. As regards the general question of police powers, I would refer the hon. Member to replies which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Chester (Sir C. Cayzer).
§ Major PROCTERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, if police powers were increased, it would not only lead to a decrease in the number of undetected crimes of violence but would also prevent coroner's courts from branding with lifelong suspicion both the innocent and the guilty?
§ Sir H. SAMUELThe question of coroner's courts is an entirely separate matter. I have received no representations from the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police or any police authority that they are unduly hampered in the exercise of their powers of investigation.
Sir F. HALLIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied in his own mind that, the police have sufficient powers in their hands to enable them to examine and cross-examine any of those whom they think guilty?
§ Sir H. SAMUELI have no reason to think to the contrary.
§ Mr. LUNNWould the right hon. Gentleman give the House some idea of what is being changed in the instructions and what attitude they have to the large amount of undetected crime in the country?
§ Sir H. SAMUELI have already stated that there has been no change of instructions.
§ Sir CHARLES CAYZERHas the right hon. Gentleman reviewed the instruction himself in the light of the facts disclosed in unsolved cases?
§ Sir H. SAMUELYes, I have gone carefully into it and made inquiries. The whole position is misconceived. There has been no change of practice at all. Hon. Members appear to have been misled possibly by some articles in the Press on the subject.