§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary whether, in cases where citizens are injured by the police and no charge made against the citizen, or in cases where a charge is preferred and dismissed by the Court, medical attendance and all necessary expenses incurred in connection with such injuries are met from public funds or whether such citizens are expected to meet such expenses themselves?
Mr. HENDERSONExpenses incurred in the circumstances mentioned would, generally speaking, be met from public funds if a doctor were called by the police to attend to the prisoner in custody, or if such expenses are included in the costs allowed by the Court, but not otherwise.
§ Mr GROVESalso asked as to the fund from which the expenses are met on occasions when the local police deem it necessary to be defended in Court by solicitors or counsel; if such expenses are met from the borough police rate, what steps are taken to consult the local authorities, who have to levy the rate, before any such expenditure is incurred; and whether, in instances where the cases are police v. public, both sides can be defended from such borough fund?
Mr. HENDERSONThe expenses referred to would ordinarily be met from the Police Fund, and in the case of a borough force would require the authority606W of the Watch Committee. If my hon. Friend refers to Police Court cases, the answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.