HC Deb 18 April 1944 vol 399 cc15-6
29. Mr. Buchanan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the police in uniform twice visited the home of W. Christie, 6, Birch Street, Glasgow, late one night and demanded from him the sum of over £2 for an alleged debt of his son who had joined the Merchant Navy; that within two hours of his son returning home after his ship had been torpedoed a uniformed constable, for the third time, called and demanded this sum and threatened him with certain penalties; why no account was rendered to Mr. Christie of the sum due; and if he will take steps to have the police stopped from becoming debt collectors and render any account due in writing.

Mr. Johnston

The police officers in question had been seconded for duty with the Warden's Service and were acting as members of that Service on the occasion referred to. I am assured that no threat of penalties was made; that none of the visits was later than 6.30 p.m.: and that the visit to Mr. Christie's son. of whose circumstances the Civil Defence authorities were completely unaware, was made because his father on the occasion of the previous visits refused to discuss the matter. When the circumstances of the son became known the Chief Constable, as chief Civil Defence warden, decided to take no further action. The chief Civil Defence warden has arranged that in similar cases in future the matter will in the first place be taken up in writing and that any necessary visits by Civil Defence officers are not made in police uniform.

Mr. Buchanan

Will the Minister say why police officers, who now ought to be doing much more important work than collecting £2, got to know that this boy was home after being torpedoed two hours after his arrival?

Mr. Johnston

I cannot answer that without notice.

Mr. Buchanan

But I wrote to the right hon. Gentleman telling him the facts and giving him notice. If these people were supposed to be air-raid wardens can he say why they were able to trace this boy two hours after his return, and were able to demand this money?

Mr. Johnston

I have no recollection of that precise point having been put to me, but previous visits had taken place to the father's home and it was because the father had declined to discuss the matter that the police officers visited the boy.

Mr. Buchanan

Is not the Minister aware that the father was acting completely in accordance with his rights? How was it that these people were able to trace the boy in this way if they were not acting as police officers? Since when have police had the right to stand at a person's door any time they like?

Mr. Johnston

These men were not acting at that time as police officers [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh"]. I have said that these men were acting as Civil Defence wardens and were wearing uniform and that instructions have been given that in no future case are they ever to go in uniform in this way.

Mr. Buchanan

As this raises a question of principle I will bring the matter up again on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

Forward to