§ Mr. HURDasked the Home Secretary seeing that in the Metropolitan Police area motor summonses must be sanctioned by the Commissioners of Police before issue, thus causing delay and extra clerical work at Scotland Yard and in the localities, if he will consider whether the responsibility for the issue of such summonses can be left to the local magistrates?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy hon. Friend is under a misapprehension, the issue of a summons being at the discretion of the magistrate in every case. In certain classes of traffic offences the divisional police have instructions to refer to New Scotland Yard before applying to the magistrate for a summons, but this is required only in the more important cases.
§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the repeated cases in which motorists refuse to 734W stop at the request of the police, particularly when they are exceeding the speed limit or are fugitives from justice, he will consider the possibility of furnishing country and suburban police stations with the means of stopping such cars whose owners refuse to obey summonses to halt?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThis question is being considered by a Committee appointed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.