HC Deb 29 January 1958 vol 581 cc347-8
9. Mr. Tomney

asked the Secretary of State for Air what was the purpose of the visit of the Royal Air Force police to the home of 5012857 Leading Aircraftman T. A. Davis, stationed at Wharton.

Mr. Ward

The airman had been absent without leave for six days. He returned to his unit on 19th November, but, unfortunately, there was delay in informing the police district headquarters to which he had been reported as an absentee. Two policemen, in civilian clothes, called at his home on 24th November. I regret that this should have occurred, but I am looking into the methods of informing police districts of an absentee's return.

Mr. Tomney

Is the Minister aware that great distress was caused to this man's family by the S.I.B. visiting them in the early hours of the morning and that, during the interview, the S.I.B. obtained the addresses of personal friends of the airman and proceeded to make inquiries, also getting these people out of bed? Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it is about time that these Gestapo methods of the S.I.B. ceased?

Secondly, is he aware that, on their making further inquiries at the station, the parents were informed that there were no records of the man ever being stationed at that particular station and that, during the whole time that the S.I.B. was searching for the man up and down London, the man was already confined to barracks? Does he not think that this is a hell of a way to run an air force?

Mr. Ward

There are several points there. I have already expressed my regret that the Service police should have called at this airman's home after he had already returned to duty, and I have already said that I am looking into methods whereby the return of absentees may be more quickly reported. But let us be quite clear that none of this need have happened if the airman had not been an absentee. We do all we can in these cases to avoid embarrassment to the parents. For this reason, the policemen were in civilian clothes and their car carried a civilian registration number. I am told that they were very cordially received by the man's parents.