§ Sir A. Wilsonasked the Home Secretary upon what statutory rule or regulation the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police relies in withholding from third parties copies of statements made to the police by parties to and witnesses of road accidents except on subpoena to attend the hearing of an action; and whether this refusal includes in all cases permission to see the statements at a police station?
§ Sir S. HoareA chief officer of police is under no legal obligation to supply a third party with information furnished to the police by parties to or witnesses of a road accident, and it is the general practice not to furnish such statements to third parties except where a subpoena is served on the officer to whom the statements were made. Where an application for a copy of a statement is not granted, permission would not be given to see the statement at a police station.