§ 39. Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if, in cases, similar to the one of which particulars have been sent to him, in which a citizen is stopped by the police to have his bags examined and inquiries made as to the contents, he will take steps as far as the Metropolitan Area is concerned, to see that these duties are carried out by uniformed police.
§ Mr. EdeUnder Section 66 of the Metropolitan Police Act, 1839 a constable has power within the Metropolitan Police District to stop, search and detain 1828 a person reasonably suspected of having or conveying anything stolen, or unlawfully obtained. This power, which is a valuable aid to the detection of crime in London, is not limited to constables in uniform, and I should not feel justified in suggesting any alteration in present practice.
§ Sir W. SmithersIn view of the wave of crime, how is a foot passenger, or anyone in a motor car, to know that these people in civilian clothes are not footpads? Is the detection of crime helped by allowing policemen in plain clothes to do this work? Should it not be reserved for police officers in uniform?
§ Mr. EdeThe person can demand to see the card of authority of the gentleman claiming to be a police officer.
§ Sir W. SmithersIt is too late then.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanMay I ask whether it would not facilitate the job of these officers if the right hon. Gentleman would encourage the wearing of the kilt?
§ Wing-Commander HulbertWill the right hon. Gentleman agree that in the tens of thousands of such inquiries the police make each year, that the inquiries are taken in good part by law-abiding citizens, but are resented only by the criminal classes?
§ Mr. EdeI can understand the resentment of a person stopped in this way, but I would ask good citizens to realise that assistance to the police in this matter is of the utmost value in preventing crime.