§ 109. Mr. Hayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the purpose of the meeting which he recently held with Metropolitan magistrates; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI have for some time been concerned about the problems of prostitution and of importuning by male persons in London, though I would add that I think it important to view this matter in a proper perspective and not to draw exaggerated pictures of the extent of the evil to be found in our streets. I have, therefore, been anxious to obtain advice and information from various quarters, including information about the law and practice in other countries, which might help me in considering whether any amendment of the law or any changes in the present methods of enforcing the law would be likely to help in dealing with the problem.
As part of these inquiries I arranged for an Assistant Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office and a Commander of the Metropolitan Police to visit the United States. I also recently had a discussion with some of the Metropolitan magistrates who deal with cases of this kind arising in the West End with a view to getting first hand knowledge of their impressions and experience. I did not, of course, seek to advise the magistrates how they should deal with particular cases coming before them. I am studying various aspects of these problems, but I have no further statement to make at present.