§ 5. Mr. Silvermanasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to an assault committed by members of the Criminal Investigation Department upon Mr. Gladwyn Clements, a journalist of national repute, on Saturday evening last, 29th July; and what steps he intends to take to afford just amends to Mr. Clements and to prevent 2810 in future such unauthorised attempts upon the freedom of the Press and the liberty of the subject?
§ Mr. PeakeThe information my right hon. Friend has is that after the police who were in charge of some prisoners had requested certain photographers not to take photographs, one man nevertheless took a photograph. The police then took charge of his camera and when the prisoners had gone off by train returned it to him on his undertaking to destroy the film. On this version of the incident the hon. Member will no doubt agree that the photographer was in the wrong and not the police.
§ Mr. SilvermanCan the hon. Gentleman say what authority the police had to request a photographer not to take a photograph in a public place, what authority they had to seize his camera by force, what authority they had to exact any undertaking from him, and what authority they had to destroy his film, if that indeed was the case?
§ Mr. PeakeTo start with, of course, Euston Station is not a public place; secondly, it is one of the recognised duties of the police to protect prisoners, convicts and other people in their charge from publicity of this kind; and the hon. Member would be the first to complain if a prisoner in whom he was interested had been permitted by the police to have his photograph taken.
§ Mr. SilvermanIs it not in the public interest that when deportees are taken away under the recent Act with expulsion orders served upon them, the public should know who these people are?