58. Commander Sir Archibald South byasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. J. Bennie, who, on 15th October, 1938, at the South-Western Police Court, was fined£8 for exceeding the speed limit, having been previously convicted three times for the same offence but on no occasion having exceeded 40 miles per hour; whether he is aware 1122 that a few weeks later at Bow Street another defendant who had four previous convictions, one of which was for careless driving, was fined£1 for exceeding the speed limit; and whether, in view of the difference of treatment meted out to offenders in different courts, he will take steps to secure uniformity of treatment to persons convicted of motoring offences?
§ Sir S. HoareYes, Sir; my attention has been called to the two cases referred to, but it would not be proper for me as Home Secretary to advise the exercise of the Royal Prerogative merely for the purpose of standardising sentences passed by the courts in the exercise of the discretion entrusted to them by Parliament. I fully appreciate, however, the desirability of securing, so far as is practicable, a common standard in the treatment of offenders, and I am in communication with the Chief Magistrate of the Metropolitan Police Courts in the hope that he may be able to give some assistance in the solution of this problem.
§ Sir A. SouthbyDoes my right hon. Friend appreciate the widespread sense of injustice which the public feel at the wide differences in the sentences which have been passed recently in the Metropolitan police courts?
§ Sir S. HoareI think I had better not comment on the matter.
§ Mr. LeachWill the right hon. Gentleman agree that the only way to get the uniformity he seeks is to have motoring offences tried by non-motoring magistrates?