§ 35. Mr. Gordon Walkerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far it is the practice in the Metropolitan Police area for a police matron to accompany a woman prisoner in a police conveyance in which male prisoners are also being carried; and what steps are taken to ensure that the practice is observed.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe practice is for a police matron to accompany women prisoners in police conveyances on routes on which women prisoners are regularly carried: and this arrangement is being supplemented by the use of policewomen. The Commissioner is considering whether any further extension is desirable and practicable.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there will not be a repetition of the incident in which apparently a woman on remand was taken in a black maria alone with a number of male prisoners and without any official—man or woman—present, and was submitted to a great deal of abuse and vilification? This was reported in the Press at the time and I do not think that the report has been contradicted.
§ Mr. ButlerSome incidents of a similar character which took place in a van between 16th April and 25th May were investigated by the Commissioner. He tells me that all the police officers concerned report that on those journeys no unseemly incidents took place. We shall naturally follow this and, as the right 681 hon. Gentleman knows, we have taken particular care in the design of vans to see that this kind of thing does not happen.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerAs there were no police officers present, how do they know that no unseemly incident took place?
§ Mr. ButlerThat is the report which I have received from the Commissioner.