HL Deb 23 May 1968 vol 292 c886WA
THE EARL OF MANSFIELD

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of ministerial statements that indicate that the Government believes that the police in Scotland generally, and in Glasgow in particular have already sufficient legal powers of search, in the case of persons suspected of carrying offensive weapons, they will state the Acts of Parliament, or local by-laws, which confer such powers, quoting in full the sections of such Acts or by-laws, upon which this belief is founded.

LORD HUGHES

There has been no ministerial statement to the effect that the police in Glasgow or in Scotland generally have legal powers to search people suspected of carrying offensive weapons: what has been made clear is that there are already powers of immediate arrest where the police have reasonable cause to believe offensive weapons are being carried and might be used. Where a person is so arrested the police have powers at common law to carry out a search.

House adjourned at sixteen minutes before seven o'clock.