§ 33. Dr. HOWITTasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the death of a woman caused or accelerated by the behaviour of a door-to-door hawker calling at her house; what supervision of licensed hawkers is exercised by the Metropolitan Police; and whether he will issue instructions to the effect that greater protection is to be given to householders in the Metropolitan Police District against molestation by unlicensed hawkers?
§ Mr. HACKINGMy right hon. Friend has made inquiry into this case. As my 1524 hon. Friend may be aware, the man referred to, who is a pedlar, was arrested by a plain-clothes officer as he was leaving the house. He was charged before the magistrates at Penge with using insulting words and behaviour, and was sentenced on Tuesday last to 21 days' imprisonment in default of paying a fine. The Metropolitan Police give careful attention to any complaints which are made by householders in regard to the behaviour of pedlars and others who call at their houses to sell goods, and my right hon. Friend is assured by the Commissioner that no additional instructions are necessary.