§ Commander O. LOCKER- LAMPSONasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the increased molestation by card sharpers of passengers on the railways; and whether he can strengthen the hand of the railway companies to deal with this matter?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONSo far as can be traced, only one complaint of molestation of railway passengers by card sharpers has recently been brought to the notice of my Department. I have been in communication with the railway company concerned, who inform me that they do not hesitate to take advantage to the full of the powers they possess to 3145W bring before the Courts persons offending in this manner, and that they have a considerable number of plain clothes police staff to cope with such offenders. The company further inform me that the chief difficulty which they experience in this connection is that the victims of such offences often decline to support the company in prosecuting the offenders. I think that, generally speaking, the existing powers of railway companies should be adequate to enable them to deal with the matter.