§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the British police failed to respond to an appeal by the police in Amsterdam to interview Patricia Ford until after a week had elapsed; why it took them three days to check and advise the Dutch police concerning her fingerprints and why up until 16 August the 134W police had not prepared a formal application to the Director of Public Prosecutions to prepare extradition papers for Miss Ford.
§ Mr. MayhewWe understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley police that at no time did he receive a request from the Dutch police authorities to interview Miss Ford; nor is there any record of any request for Miss Ford's fingerprints. The Chief Constable was informed that Miss Ford had given herself up to the police in Amsterdam on 13 August; on 14 August, after discussions with an official from the Director of Public Prosecutions, the police requested that she be detained to enable the Director to commence extradition proceedings. In the event, the Dutch were unable to consider extradition because the offences of which Miss Ford is accused are not extradition crimes in United Kingdom law and there was, therefore, no basis for extradition under the terms of the Anglo-Dutch extradition treaty.