HC Deb 27 April 1972 vol 835 cc1756-7
20. Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of convictions for illegal street gambling in the Metropolitan Police area during the last 12 months.

Mr. Carlisle

The statistics are not yet available, I am obtaining them and shall write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Cox

I thank the hon. and learned Gentleman for that reply. Is he not aware of the vast amount of illegal card playing which is taking place in many parts of London, and at which many people, especially overseas visitors, are being fleeced of their money? As the individuals who run these games readily resort to both abuse and violence, is it not time that the Minister asked the Metropolitan Police to take sterner action against these individuals?

Mr. Carlisle

I am aware of the hon. Gentleman's concern in this matter. Gaming in the street is prohibited by Section 5 of the Gaming Act, 1968, and the police may proceed under various other provisions. I understand that they do so with regard to getting the individual bound over and applying for his recognisance to be estreated in respect of a subsequent offence. When the figures are available I shall look at them and at what the hon. Gentleman said.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

Can the hon. and learned Gentleman say why the Metropolitan Police can, and do, immediately take action if demonstrators cause an obstruction? Action is taken immediately, and the demonstrators are heavily fined. But the people referred to by my hon. Friend the Member for Wandsworth, Central (Mr. Thomas Cox) take their little boxes and set themselves up for business at street corners every day of the week and nothing seems to be done about that. Perhaps the hon. and learned Gentleman would suggest to the police that they should treat these people in the same way as they do working-class demonstrators.

Mr. Carlisle

I repudiate, as I am sure would the House, the hon. Gentleman's final comment, which implies bias by the police. Under the Gaming Act, the maximum penalty for this offence is £50. There is power to take proceedings for obstruction under the Police Acts and I gather that the Metropolitan Police do that from time to time.