43. Mr. WESTasked the Home Secretary whether he can give the average number of arrests and the average number of convictions per week in the Metropolitan area during recent months on a charge of loitering with intent to commit a felony; whether he is aware of the growing impression that these charges are indicative of police persecution of unemployed persons; and whether he will issue instructions that a charge of this description shall not be made without substantial evidence?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe suggestion that the police are persecuting the unemployed is one that will be rightly resented by every member of the Metropolitan Force. It is the duty of the police to prevent crime and in order to carry out this duty they must arrest persons frequenting public places with intent to commit a felony. It is essential that there should be vigilance in the discharge of this duty if crimes of certain types are to be prevented. There is not the smallest reason to suppose that the police are abusing their powers in this matter and the fact that in a certain number of cases the charge is dismissed or the accused is given the benefit of the doubt, is no indication whatever that the police are acting oppressively. I see no reason for issuing any fresh instructions on the point.
Mr. WESTIs it not the case that the number of charges obtained by a plain clothes police officer is taken into consideration when considering awards or increases in salary?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member has already had an answer on that subject.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSMay I ask whether the figures called for in the question can be supplied, and if they are available how many of the persons apprehended for loitering were unemployed?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI do not think that any public service would be served by making these considerable researches. The figures are given in the report for the year and to ask for a special return is not in the public interest.
Mr. WESTIs it not the fact that when complaints are made to Scotland Yard about these cases, which are ultimately dismissed, only one side of the case, the police side, is heard, and not the complainant's side?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am satisfied that that is not the case.