§ Miss HoeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the average delay before a witness of a crime views a witness album and its assessed effect on successful recognition.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that those witnesses to a crime who are called to view witness albums usually do so within seven days of the crime being committed. The interval will depend on several factors including the effect of the crime on the witness, the competence of the witness and the progress of the investigation. It is not possible to give a definitive assessment of the effect of any interval on successful recognition.