HC Deb 07 June 1934 vol 290 cc1072-3
38. Captain CUNNINGHAM - REID

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the fact that a man was convicted on the 21st May, at the West London Police Court, on charges of attempting to obtain money by false pretences, the evidence including that of a conversation overheard by a telephone operator; and what instructions are given to telephone operators with regard to listening in to conversations on the telephone?

Sir E. BENNETT

I am aware of the case to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. The conversation, which strongly suggested an attempt at fraud, was overheard by a telephone operator in the course of supervising a call in which exceptional measures were necessary to establish proper connection. Operators are instructed not to listen in to a telephone conversation except so far as is necessary to ensure that communication is satisfactorily established between the calling and the called telephones.