HC Deb 16 May 1968 vol 764 cc1380-1
13. Mr. Weatherill

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to issue traffic wardens with a list of stolen vehicles in order to help the police in their recovery.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

This is a matter for chief officers of police, but I understand that traffic wardens are commonly asked to look out for stolen vehicles of particular interest to the police.

Mr. Weatherill

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a car which had been stolen four months previously was recently found in, I think, Ovington Gardens with no fewer than seven parking tickets attached to it? Would it not greatly enhance the public image of traffic wardens if they could assist the police to trace stolen vehicles, and do it quickly?

Mr. Morgan

The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the danger in logic or arguing from the particular to the general. There is no national list of vehicles reported stolen. If such a list were compiled, it would be a very long one and it would be impractical to issue it to each traffic warden. However, where vehicles connected with very serious crime are urgently required to be traced by the police, traffic wardens are called in to help.

Mr. Paget

Is my hon. Friend aware that it may be of some convenience to the owner who has had his car stolen to receive notice of where it had been parked?