§ Mr. C. Wilsonasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the large number of shops and arcades in the Metropolitan Police area where the sole or main business carried on is the provision of gambling machines of various kinds, where prizes are given by the proprietors to lucky competitors on the machines; and why, as police proceedings have been taken and convictions obtained in the cases of cafes, tobacconists, and other shops where similar machines have been installed, on the ground that the transactions on such machines are offences against the Gaming and Betting Acts, action is not taken where the gaming machines are the sole or main attraction?
§ Sir S. HoareThe Commissioner of Police informs me that action is taken by the police in respect of games played for prizes at amusement arcades and fun fairs, whenever the element of gambling in such games is found to be more than trivial. It is usual in such cases to warn the proprietor in the first place and to take proceedings if the warning is not heeded. During recent months action has been taken by the police in a number of cases.