§ 7. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a circular to chief constables to draw attention to the undesirability of permitting the use of official police photographs to illustrate articles in crime magazines.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI understood that in the particular case to which the hon. Member has called my attention the police did not give permission for publication of the photographs in question. Inquiries are being made into this matter, and when they are complete I will certainly consider whether there are grounds for issuing a circular to chief constables.
§ Mr. SwinglerWhile thanking the right hon. and learned Gentleman for the action he is taking, may I ask whether he does not agree that it is a horrible and shocking thing that a magazine should produce an article called "The Clay Corner Murder Case," illustrating it by photographs of the unfortunate victim in the condition in which he was murdered? As this can only appeal to morbid and sordid minds and is highly distressing to the people closely concerned, will the Home Secretary take most stringent action about it?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI will certainly consider what the hon. Gentleman has strongly represented.