§ 10. Mr. LOVAT-FRASERasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that 9,871 fewer summonses on the application of the police for motor-noise offences in the Metropolis were issued in 1932 than in 1931; and whether this is due to a decline in the actual number of such offences or to the fact that the police have not taken action where such noises have occurred?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe Commissioner of Police informs me that this reduction in the number of summonses is accounted for partly by an extension of the system of giving verbal warnings or written cautions in certain types of cases instead of issuing summonses, but that there was also a considerable decline in the total number of cases dealt with. It is not possible to ascribe definite reasons for this decline, but it may be attributed partly to an improvement in the position as regards noise offences, and partly to the fact that the police—and particularly the motor patrols—are concentrating more on the various offences against the provisions of the law which relate to safety and the prevention of accidents.
§ 11. Mr. MAGNAYasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the prosecution, conviction, and penalising under the Road Traffic Act of South Shields and Gateshead motorists at Jarrow and North Riding police courts, respectively, for alleged offences, after they had themselves reported the circumstances of minor mishaps in which they were accidentally involved; and whether he will call for full reports of such prosecutions with a view to a remission of the fines inflicted?
§ Sir J. GILMOURMy attention had not previously been drawn to these cases but I have caused inquiries to be made and I regret that I find no grounds on 503 which I should be justified, consistently with my public duty, in advising any remission of the fines imposed.