§ 63. Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Home Secretary whether, in the case of persons convicted of being in illegal possession of charts or maps of aerodromes or of other offences involving the security of the country's defence and thereafter sentenced to a relatively short period of imprisonment, he will consider taking steps to have such persons detained; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?
§ Sir J. AndersonIf in any case when a person is convicted of an offence against the Defence Regulations there are any grounds for thinking that the prolonged detention of the offender is necessary on security grounds, my hon. and learned Friend can be assured that appropriate action is always taken, but there are many convictions for offences against the Defence Regulations in which there are no reasons at all for thinking that the offender had any intention of assisting the enemy. In the case which my hon. Friend no doubt has in mind, I am informed that the mental condition of the offender is such that it is most improbable that he was engaged in any sinister activities. I am having him kept under medical observation while he is in prison and am making further inquiries with a view to reaching a decision before his sentence expires on the question whether it is desirable that he should continue in custody.