§ Mr. STANTONasked the Home Secretary whether steps are being taken to protect the public from being robbed by turf and betting syndicates; if his Department will at once double its activities in the detection of persons so engaged; and will he consider the prosecution of sporting papers and others which assist and advertise these schemes?
§ Mr. SHORTTThis matter is receiving the close attention of the police. At the present moment three persons are being prosecuted in London by the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of a scheme of this kind in which very large sums are involved. Another prosecution is taking place in South Wales. It would not be possible to prosecute a newspaper unless it could be shown that those responsible for the publication were aware that the scheme was fraudulent, and proof of this is generally lacking.