§ Sir W. BULLasked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the practice of the Metropolitan Police, when making inquiries about aliens employed in private houses, to ask to see the alleged alien without first requesting an interview with 661W his or her employer; is he aware that this practice causes annoyance in private households and gives opportunity for unauthorised persons to personate a constable with an unlawful purpose; and will he give directions to the Commissioner of Police that will put an end to the practice?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe practice of the Metropolitan Police in making enquiries at private houses is to do so in such a way as may, while being effective, cause the minimum of inconvenience. A house holder is bound under heavy penalties to assist the police in enquiries respecting alien members of his household; but in simple enquiries it would not be usual to cause him inconvenience by insisting on interviewing him unless this is really necessary. Many thousands of such enquiries are made annually, and this is the first occasion, so far as I am aware, in which complaint has been made. There appears to be no reason to alter a practice that works well.