§ 24. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the large amount of driftwood in the tidal waters of the River Thames, which is a danger to the users of the river and which is unsightly; and if he will introduce legislation to empower the Metropolitan Police to enforce the penalties for putting or throwing waste timber or other rubbish into the tidal reaches of the River Thames.
§ Mr. George ThomasI am informed by the Commissioner that the Metropolitan Police already co-operate fully with the Port of London Authority in the enforcement of the relevant legislation. The present restriction to the Port of London Authority of the right to institute certain prosecutions in no way hampers the enforcement of this legislation.
§ Mr. JenkinsIs my hon. Friend aware that in a display of driftwood at Putney last autumn, the largest and most dangerous piece of driftwood was stamped "Port of London Authority"? Does he not, therefore, consider that the co-operation between the Metropolitan Police and the Port of London Authority should, perhaps, take a different character?
§ Mr. ThomasMy hon. Friend ought to be a special constable. The Port of London Authority is the prosecuting authority and the police could only report an offender to the Port of London Authority.