§ 24. Miss Baconasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special steps he proposes to take to deal with the gang warfare and protection rackets which exist in London.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am in close touch with the Commissioner of Police and am 1470 satisfied that the Metropolitan Police are doing everything possible to suppress organised crime in the Metropolis.
§ Miss BaconIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of public concern about recent incidents? Has his attention been drawn to the incident this week in the Edmonton district in which a gang entered a street and terrified its inhabitants? It is not now what might be called the underworld which is being affected by this gang warfare but ordinary people in London.
§ Sir T. MooreWhat about corporal punishment?
§ Mr. ButlerI am aware of that incident. I am also satisfied that the police, by setting up a new criminal intelligence section, and in other ways, have had considerable success against these dangerous gangs. I can assure the hon. Lady that not only by the improvements in the conditions of the police that we hope to effect but also by increasing their numbers, and in other ways, we hope to combat this very serious wave of crime.