§ Sir J. AGG-GARDNERasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the case of a child named Nellie Smith who, charged before a bench of magistrates last month with stealing, was remanded and ultimately acquitted, but who was refused bail during the remand, contrary to the provisions of The Children's Act, 1908, Section 94; and whether he proposes to take steps to secure the due observance of this section of this Act in the future?
§ Mr. SHORTTMy attention has been called to this case and I have received a report from the Commissioner of Police. The girl, when charged, gave a false address, and it was impossible to trace either her friends or her address. The police officer in the exercise of the discretion conferred on him by Section 94 (c) of the Children Act, 1908, caused her to be detained in a place of detention under the Act in accordance with Section 95. Her conduct, while in the Remand Home, was so violent that the Superintendent was compelled to bring her before the Magistrates and to ask them to send her550W to prison, which the Justices did, certifying in the form required by Section 97 of the. Children Act that the girl was too unruly to be detained in a place of detention. The action of the police in this case was quite justified, and I have no reason to suppose that the provisions of Section 94 of the Children Act, 1908 are not duly observed.