HC Deb 08 May 1940 vol 360 c1246W
Mr. Lyons

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a case in which a man was charged at the Nottingham city police court, on 23rd April, 1940, for failing to obscure a light in his bathroom, when the court dismissed the summons on payment of 7s. 6d. costs, and the subsequent observations on that decision by the chief air-raid precautions officer for Nottingham; and what steps he proposes to take in view of the undesirability of any such criticism of the court by a party to a case which has been adjudicated upon?

Mr. Peake

I understand that when dealing with an offence against the Lighting Restrictions Order a magistrate made some general comment which seemed capable of creating the impression that it is excusable to put on the light for a minute or so during the blackout period for the purpose of pulling down the blinds. It was in order to prevent any such erroneous impression getting abroad that the chief constable made a public statement on the point.