HC Deb 17 November 1949 vol 469 cc2166-8
6. Mr. Weitzman

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken in regard to the incident on 4th October, 1949, which was fully reported to the police, when two residents of Stoke Newington, the names of whom have been communicated to him, were, whilst passengers in a trolley bus, without provocation on their part, attacked by a gang of 20 to 25 men shouting Fascist slogans, so that one was knocked unconscious and had to have five stitches inserted in his lip and the other suffered from a broken nose.

Mr. Ede

The police have done all they can to trace the assailants of these two men but so far without success. Their efforts are continuing.

Mr. Weitzman

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that, as this is one of many unfortunate incidents in North London, some inquiry ought to be made into these matters?

Mr. Ede

In this case the two attacked men have been asked to help the police. They say that they could not identify their assailants if they saw them, and they have declined to come to Scotland Yard to see the photographic collection that we have there of people likely to be concerned in incidents of this kind. It is clear that as the police did not see the incident they must rely on the persons who have been the victims of the assault to give them such assistance as is in their power if they are to do anything effective.

Mr. Weitzman

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the reason why these two people did not give further assistance after having supplied a fully detailed statement was because they were afraid of the consequences at the hands of other people; and may I ask whether the conductor and the driver of the bus have been seen in regard to this matter?

Mr. Ede

Yes. The conductor of the bus was most helpful. In fact, he took the bus off its route to take these men to the police station so that as early information as possible should be available to the police.

Mr. Weitzman

Have the conductor and the driver been asked to go to Scotland Yard to look at these photographs to see whether they can identify the persons who attacked these men?

Mr. Ede

I will make inquiries on that point.

Mr. Platts-Mills

Has the right hon. Gentleman had his attention drawn to two similar cases in each of which a Shoreditch family, husband and wife, was attacked in a similar way, and does not this collection of incidents add weight to the suggestion which I have ventured to make on more than one occasion that there should indeed be a judicial inquiry into the prevalence of this hooliganism in this part of London?

Mr. Ede

No, Sir. I do not think that there is any need for a judicial inquiry. The facts are well known and regrettable. I only wish that people would assist the police more than they do in their efforts to trace these people.