Mr. H. H. Y. Woolf

HC Deb 28 November 1963 vol 685 cc105-6W

Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the nature of the administrative failure by which the Metropolitan Police failed to connect the Mr. H. H. Y. Woolfreported missing on 16th November, 1962, with the Mr. Woolf whom the police arrested on 10th November and retained in custody in hospital until 23rd November when he died;

(2) why the Metropolitan Police failed to communicate with the relatives of Mr. H. H. Y. Woolf, the names and addresses of whom were known to them on 10th November, 1962, from the time when they arrested him until after he died, in hospital and in police custody, two weeks later.

Mr. Brooke

The Commissioner of Police informs me that there was an omission on the part of several officers to carry out routine measures, which, had they been applied, would have resulted much earlier in Mr. Woolf being identified as the person who had been reported missing. The Commissioner of Police has tendered an apology to Mrs. Woolf.

Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police instructed counsel to oppose Mrs. Woolf's application to the divisional court for a new inquest on the late Mr. H. H. Y. Woolf.

Mr. Brooke

The Commissioner of Police was served with the Notice of Application, and he decided that, in order to assist the court, counsel should be available, particularly on the question of the value to be attached to any further evidence not available at the inquest. I understand that counsel pointed out the need for evidence rather than supposition if a new inquest were to be justified.

Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received a report from the Metropolitan Police on the case of the late Mr. H. H. Y. Woolf; and if he will publish it.

Mr. Brooke

I have received such a report and, as I told my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster (Mr. Berkeley) last week, I asked the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for some further information. I have just received this, 'and when I have considered it I will make a statement.