HC Deb 22 May 1958 vol 588 cc1472-3
7. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what general instructions are issued to the Metropolitan Police about securing the presence of parents before statements are taken from juveniles.

Mr. Renton

The practice of the Metropolitan Police is that, whenever possible, parents or guardians should be given the opportunity of being present when statements are taken from juveniles who are suspected of or in custody for an offence.

Mr. Robinson

Has the hon. and learned Gentleman seen the report of a recent case in Liverpool, in which three children were kept in custody for more than five hours and a statement taken without the parents being present? Does his Answer mean that this sort of thing is at any rate unlikely to happen in the Metropolitan Police area?

Mr. Renton

I have not seen the facts of the Liverpool case to which the hon. Gentleman refers. His original Question referred to the practice of the Metropolitan Police, and I have been able to assure him with regard to it.

Mrs. Braddock

Is the Under-Secretary aware that this matter should be looked at, not only from the point of view of the Metropolitan Police, but from that of the police generally? Is he aware that magistrates in juvenile courts very often find themselves confronted with statements alleged to have been made by juveniles, recorded by the police but denied by the juveniles and that very often on inquiry it has been discovered that there has not been any parent with the child when a statement was made? Would not he agree that that creates a very serious situation? Will he look at the matter, as I say, not only from the Metropolitan Police point of view but from the point of view of the police throughout the country?

Mr. Renton

My original Answer referred to the Metropolitan Police, but I think that I can assure the hon. Lady that the practice that prevails in the Metropolitan Police does apply generally. I would ask the House to bear in mind that there are some cases in which it is certainly not desirable that the parents should be present, as, for instance, when allegations of cruelty are being made against them by the children.