HC Deb 23 August 1945 vol 413 c858W
Mr. J. Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps to ensure that the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis will not institute prosecutions for exceeding the speed limit, based upon evidence provided by one police officer on a motor bicycle without the corroboration of another officer.

Mr. Ede

Traffic patrols on solo motor bicycles in the Metropolitan Police District are not specially employed on the detection of speeding offences, but they would be failing in their duty if they ignored such offences where these come to their notice in the course of their general traffic duties. Where proceedings are taken in such a case on a report from a single police officer, his evidence is supported by evidence of speedometer readings and of the accuracy of the speedometer of the vehicle. Prosecutions are not undertaken by my authority; and the question whether the evidence tendered in support of a charge is sufficient to satisfy the court that the offence is proved is one for the court itself to decide.