§ 66. Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can give any information in connection with the police raid on an East End social club in Whitechapel Road, Stepney, which 1812 was being used as a betting house; and what action he intends taking about the matter.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Peake)Action has already been taken against the Bancroft Social Club in Whitechapel Road. The premises were entered under a search warrant granted to the police under the Betting Act as a result of observation which disclosed that betting on horse racing and dog racing was taking place. The proprietor of the Club and 21 other persons were arrested, and en the 13th March the proprietor was fined £100 and order to pay £10 10s. costs, while the 21 frequenters were fined and bound over. Two of the frequenters who had previously been bound over were required to forfeit their recognisances.
§ 67. Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give any information on the police raids on the West End Bridge and Social Club, Wardour Street, the Fulham and Hammersmith Working Men's Social Club, Garvan Road, Fulham, and the Maison des Hommes Club, Upper Islington, North; and what action he intends taking about the matter.
§ Mr. PeakeAs regards the West End Bridge and Social Club, action has already been taken, and, as a result of proceedings by the police under the Gaming Act, the proprietor of the Club was on the 28th March fined £40 and ordered to pay £10 10s. costs, and 29 persons found frequenting the premises were bound over. The principal and seven of the frequenters who had previously been bound over were required to forfeit their recognisances amounting to £90 altogether. The Fulham and Hammersmith Working Men's Social Club and the Maison des Hommes Club were each entered on 27th March under a search warrant granted to the police under the Licensing Act, and in each of these two cases the question of proceedings for offences against the Licensing Act is under consideration.
§ Mr. ThorneWhy cannot the Home Secretary take powers to close clubs altogether when they have been convicted in this manner?
§ Mr. PeakeMy right hon. Friend has, in draft, a letter to my hon. Friend explaining the position, which is somewhat 1813 technical. But the short answer is that to take closing powers would not create a new offence, since gaming is illegal in any event.
§ Sir H. WilliamsWhy does the Minister prosecute people for doing in one place what they are free to do in other places? They bet to their heart's content on a racecourse, but it becomes a grave sin if they do it in a club.