§ 36. Mr. Robert Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to make a statement concerning the case of the late Mr. Edwin Braybrook Webb, details of which have been submitted to him, who died in Paddington Police Station.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeOn 20th February, 1955, Mr. Webb was arrested and charged with being drunk and incapable, was placed in a cell at Paddington Police Station at. 3.15 a.m., and was visited at half-hourly intervals. At 4.45 a.m. he could not be roused. A doctor was called immediately and found that he was dead, death having taken place very recently. The notes of the coroner's inquest show that the severe cerebral haemorrhage which caused Mr. Webb's death would have proved fatal in any case and that it would have been difficult in the circumstances even for a doctor to distinguish between the symptoms of cerebral haemorrhage and 2218 the symptoms of alcohol. I am satisfied, as the coroner was, that the police officers acted properly and called a doctor as soon as a change in Mr. Webb's condition was noted.
I have great sympathy with Mr. Webb's relatives that his death should have occurred in such unfortunate circumstances, and I am glad to have this opportunity of making it clear that there was nothing in the post-mortem findings to suggest that Mr. Webb had taken alcohol to excess.
§ Mr. JenkinsIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the statement he has made will bring substantial comfort and consolation to the relatives of Mr. Webb because it has vindicated him from the charge of drunkenness?