§ 18. Mr. THURTLEasked the Home Secretary whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the case of Albert James Trinnaman and George Robert Trinnaman, two unemployed men of Shoreditch, who were recently charged at Old Street police court with being suspected persons loitering with intent to commit a felony; whether he is aware that the men were said to have nothing against 1376 their character and were discharged without conviction; and whether he will state the length of service of the police constable in plain clothes who effected the arrest of these men?
§ Sir J. SIMONI have made inquiry into this case and am informed that the magistrate, after hearing the evidence given by the police and by the defendants, found the charge proved but discharged them under the Probation of Offenders Act in view of their previous good character. Of the two police constables concerned in the case, one has 16 years' service and the other three years' service.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the material police constable in the case, the man who made the arrest, was the man with the shorter period of service and that the general complaint is that police are being sent on this very difficult duty who have had very short experience indeed, and will he make it clear to the police of the Metropolis that walking about the streets is not in itself a crime?
§ Sir J. SIMONNo one ever suggested that it was. I regret that there should be a reflection made on these policemen. I might inform the hon. Member, if he does not know it, that the magistrate said:
I am quite satisfied with the evidence of these two police officers and I find you both guilty.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was only one officer who pretended to have observed the men's movements, and that the magistrate himself merely said they had been indiscreet?