§ Colonel IVOR PHILIPPSasked the Home Secretary whether the Metropolitan police employed on patrol and point duty in the Metropolis have instructions to report any cases of dangerous driving which may come to their notice, irrespective of whether such dangerous driving has caused an accident or not; and, if so, how many such cases not causing an accident have been reported since 1st January this year, and how many convictions have been obtained?
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHThe Metropolitan police have instructions to report any case of dangerous driving coming to their notice, whether an accident results or not. The total number of cases reported since 1st January, cannot readily be ascertained; but Police Court proceedings were actually taken in 615 such cases in which no accident occurred. Of these proceedings 358 were taken under Section 1 of the Motor Car Act," and 257 under Section 54 (5) of the Police Act, 1839. There have been 530 convictions.
§ Mr. MARTINasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that Messrs. Gurney and Embleton, fined 22s. and costs each for collecting for the indigent blind 1902W on the public streets, were not specially warned by the police, and that the police admitted at the Court that there was no obstruction of traffic on the street, he will order that their fines be refunded to them?
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHMy right hon. Friend is informed by the Commissioner of Police that these men were fully aware of what was required of them. When Gurney gave notice of the proposed demonstration a copy of the regulations was given him and carefully explained. When, immediately before the demonstration, Embleton and Gurney were issuing collecting boxes, they were again cautioned, as were the collectors. In these circumstances the Secretary of State cannot take any action in the matter.