HC Deb 23 January 1947 vol 432 c77W
81. Mr. Piratin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement in connection with the burning of Scrolls of the Law in the Dollis Hill Synagogue, Neasden, on 30th December; and, since this is the second such outrage within two weeks in London, whether he is satisfied that adequate precautions were taken by the authorities after the first incident in Clapton to prevent further outrages of this nature.

Mr. Ede

Police investigations are still going on and if sufficient evidence can be found a report will be made to the Director of Public Prosecutions. I am satisfied that the police are doing and will continue to do all they can with the resources available, both to prevent outrages of this kind and to bring to justice those who are responsible for them.

82. Mr. Piratin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in view of the increase of organised anti-Semitic activities, he will now give further consideration to the introduction of legislation to forbid propaganda and activity of an organised and anti-racial nature.

Mr. Ede

The persons responsible for the recent anti-Semitic activities which I assume the hon. Member has in mind, appear to have broken the existing law. It is not, therefore, a question of creating a new offence, but of catching the offenders. Vigorous efforts to do this are being made and in some cases have already been successful.