§ 30. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the practice of the Metropolitan Police with regard to the recovery of costs and expenses from a person against whom a prosecution has failed.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI am not aware that any such case has arisen in the Metropolitan police district, and there is accordingly no practice. Should such a case arise, it would be decided on its merit.
§ Mr. HughesCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman devise means whereby the good example set by the Metropolitan Police could be copied by regional police forces, where injustices of this kind are sometimes perpetrated?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI can only speak for the police area in which I have authority.
§ 32. Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement in respect of the case of Mr. E. P. Dimmick, 28, Woodlands Park, Bexley, details of which have been 559 supplied by the hon. Member for Dartford, who has only been able to recover £5 5s. costs against the Metropolitan Police, when the actual expenses to Mr. Dimmick of his defence amounted to £17 16s.; and, in view of the fact that the evidence showed that the prosecution ought never to have been brought, if he will arrange for the reimbursement of the balance of the expenses.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI received only the day before yesterday the letter to which the Question by the hon. Member relates. I am causing inquiries to be made about this case and will communicate with the hon. Member.