HC Deb 06 November 1947 vol 443 cc246-7W
96. Mr. Sargood

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake to make further inquiries regarding the matter of entry and search of premises in Pages Walk, Bermondsey, by a police officer, in view of the written evidence supplied to him from one of the occupiers of the premises searched that permission to enter was only given to recover property lodged in trees at the rear of the premises entered; and will he issue instructions that no police officer should conduct a search of premises aided by a person not a member of a police force, and not having a warrant to do so.

Mr. Ede

I cannot trace having received any statement from either of the occupiers of the premises in question. I shall be prepared to consider any such representations, but on the facts now before me I cannot usefully add anything on this point to my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 30th October. As regards the second part of the Question, the police officer concerned in this case was not assisted by anyone when he searched the premises and I see no occasion for issuing instructions in the sense suggested.