§ Captain STRICKLANDasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that on Sunday, 7th June, at about four o'clock p.m., a motor lorry was stopped by a police car containing two officers, both in plain clothes; and whether instructions have been issued by the Home Office authorising the stopping of cars by un-uniformed police?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe particulars given by my hon. Friend are not sufficient to identify the case but I may say that no instructions have been issued by the Home Office in this matter. It is within the discretion of chief officers of police, who are responsible for enforcing the law, to decide whether or not to use police in plain clothes for road traffic purposes.
§ Captain STRICKLANDasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that a driver of a motor lorry was stopped on Wednesday, 20th May, at about 8.20 a.m. on the Rochester-Blackheath road by a police car carrying an L plate and a G B plate in which both officers were in plain clothes; and under what authority this method was adopted?
§ Sir J. SIMONI have been in consultation with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis who informs me that there is no record of such an incident in the Metropolitan Police District. If my hon. and gallant Friend will give me240W further particulars I shall be glad to make further inquiries.