§ Lord C. BERESFORDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the chief constable of any town has no power to compel a person who makes an accusation of dog bite to permit medical examination into the bona fides of the allegation; whether he is aware that the owner of a dog may be put to all the trouble and expense of defending a Police Court prosecution which is certain to fail and yet will cost the defendant many pounds to defend, as well as loss of time; and whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to authorise chief constables of towns to order medical examination of persons making these accusations against owners of dogs?
§ Mr. McKENNAA chief constable has no such power as is referred to in the first question; the answer to the second question is in the affirmative, but I would remind the Noble Lord that a Court of Summary Jurisdiction on dismissing an information may, if good cause is shown, order the prosecution to pay the costs of the defence. In regard to the third question, I do not see my way to propose such an alteration of the law as would give the police the power suggested.