§ 16. Mrs. Cazalet Keirasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the apology tendered to Mr. Somers, of 47, Marquess Road, N.1, by an inspector of police for the mistake made over his identity card, he will see that the plain clothes police officers, 250G and 510G, are reprimanded for the hectoring manner in which they carried out their investigations; and will he give an assurance that in future only men fully conversant with their duties are employed in such important work?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison)The fact that an apology was tendered does not imply that the police officers carried out their investigations in an improper manner, and I regret that my hon. Friend has made this allegation, for which there is no foundation. As the hon. Lady has already been informed by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, the circumstances were fully investigated by the Commissioner of Police, who found no justification for reprimanding or admonishing them. I am informed that both officers had considerable experience of this type of work.
§ Mrs. KeirIs my right hon. Friend aware that these two plain clothes police officers accused Mr. Somers of being a deserter and behaved in a very bullying manner to his wife? Surely my right hon. Friend thinks that they should be reprimanded for this very un-British method of performing their duties?
§ Mr. MorrisonNo, Sir, I am not aware of these things, nor are they admitted in the letter which the Under-Secretary wrote to the hon. Lady.
§ Mrs. KeirOwing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.