HC Deb 18 June 1959 vol 607 cc621-2
6. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now investigated the circumstances in which Thomas Halloran, of Isledon; Road, Islington, and Patrick Joseph Cox, of Travers Road, Islington, on Sunday evening, 17th May, were taken to the Hornsey Road police station, and there assaulted, beaten, and kicked by a sergeant and three or four constables, and so seriously disfigured and wounded that their injuries had to be dressed at the Royal Northern Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I referred this complaint to the Commissioner, who has investigated it very fully and finds no grounds for disciplinary action or for the institution of criminal proceedings. I accept this conclusion. It is, of course, open to the complainants to take the matter to the courts, and I understand that one of them is in fact consulting a solicitor. I cannot therefore say any more.

Mr. Fletcher

Does not the Home Secretary realise that that is a most unsatisfactory reply? Is he not aware that before I wrote to him and put this Question on the Order Paper I had not only seen these two men, who were in a shocking condition, but had taken statements from eight independent witnesses and had satisfied myself that these quite respectable citizens were subjected to violent, brutal, unprovoked attack by police officers in a police station? Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that there ought to be a completely independent inquiry? Does he not realise it is quite useless to say that these people can take the matter to court if they have been manhandled, kicked, and cuffed about by police officers whom they cannot identify in a police station?

Mr. Butler

I cannot accept the hon. Member's statement. I can say, however, that at his instance and representation an inquiry was undertaken by the Commissioner and all those witnesses whose names were brought to my attention by the hon. Member have been interviewed. I have accepted the Commissioner's conclusion and I am satisfied about his inquiry and about his decision. As one of the complainants is now consulting a solicitor, I think it would be wrong for me to say any more.

Mr. Fletcher

In view of the totally unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall take the earliest opportunity of raising this matter on the Adjournment and bringing the full facts to the attention of the House.