HC Deb 17 December 1959 vol 615 cc1642-4
59. Mr. C. Royle

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the terms of reference for the committee of inquiry into police and public relationships will include the question of relations with coloured immigrants.

66. Mr. Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now announce the composition and terms of reference of the proposed committee to inquire into the relations of the police and the public and the conditions of the police force generally.

68. Mr. Spriggs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer to the proposed committee of inquiry into the relationship between police and public the case of Michael Sinnot, of St. Helens, details of which have been communicated to him by the hon. Member for St. Helens.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I would refer to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made yesterday.

Mr. Hoyle

I apologise for the fact that my Question follows a question I was able to put to the Prime Minister yesterday on this matter, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a real difference with regard to these people and the general public, that here is a particular difficulty? The right hon. Gentleman may remember that some of us have had the opportunity of discussing this matter with him. May it be that the Commission may look into this matter as a special problem?

Mr. Butler

Yes. What my right hon. Friend said yesterday was that the Commission will be concerned because part of its terms of reference deal with relations between the police and public. I have no doubt that this aspect, which is so important, will arise.

Mr. Spriggs

I should like to raise this question with the right hon. Gentleman with reference to the case of Michael Sinnot of St. Helens. May I draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that the parents, one of whom is totally blind, co-operated with the police to the fullest extent, that then, after the parents allowed them to take him outside the door for questioning, the police took the boy six miles away from home for interrogation, without informing the parents? Is it not time that this House was provided with an opportunity for examination of such complaints as this, with a view to clearing the air and putting the police in their position and bringing about proper relationships between the police and the public?

Mr. Butler

Yes, I am aware of the difficulties of this case. I think I must ask for your consideration, Mr. Speaker, because I am not really responsible for answering questions on this matter. I understand that the chief constable has written to the hon. Member and that this case may be sub judice. It does not fall within my responsibility, but, as was announced by my right hon. Friend yesterday, a Commission has deliberately been set up, and, as I mentioned to the House on a previous occasion, it has amongst its terms of reference the question of accountability, and that may help to relieve the anxieties of some hon. Members in relation to the future constitutional position of the Secretary of State.

Mr. Spriggs

May I draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that the police in this case were not the local authority police but police from outside the county borough authority? Is he aware that there was no consultation with the police chief or any of his officers and that this incident took place without the knowledge of the local police force?