15. Mrs. Braddockasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the number of private special guard organisations being set up stating that their object is to protect properties, etc., from burglaries, at a charge; to what extent these organisations are leading to breaches of the peace; and what advice he proposes to give to watch committees in this matter.
§ Mr. EdeI have been keeping in close touch with the activities of private organisations of this kind, but I know of only one case in which action taken by a member of one of them led to a breach of the peace. I have no doubt that if the law is infringed by any of these organisations appropriate action will be taken by the police and I do not think that any special advice to watch committees is required.