§ Mr. DUCKWORTHasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the practice of re-arresting prisoners on leaving gaol at the expiration of their sentences for offences committed prior to those they have expiated; and whether, seeing that such a policy is not desirable, suitable instructions could be issued to those concerned that all offences should he taken 567W into consideration when a prisoner is before the Courts?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy attention has been called to a few instances of the kind referred to, but so far from amounting to a practice, they are I think exceptions to the rule which on all convenient occasions I have indicated to the police as desirable, namely, that any outstanding charges which a prisoner admits at the time of the trial should be brought to the notice of the Court so that they may be taken into consideration, and that if other charges are in question later, steps should be taken to have them dealt with during the currency of any existing sentence.