§ 40. Sir R. Blairasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of cases heard in the "S" division during the month of November last for driving to the danger of the public and driving without due care and attention, respectively; and how many of the former were dismissed on identical police evidence?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)During November last the courts dealt with 17 cases of reckless or dangerous driving and 32 cases of careless driving reported from the "S" division of the Metropolitan Police. Of the former, eight were dismissed or withdrawn, but without a detailed examination of each case it is impossible to say what police evidence, if any, was available. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, a charge often results from an accident which is not witnessed by the police.
§ Sir R. BlairCan the Under-Secretary do something to ensure greater discrimination in the issue of summonses to the same effect?