§ 77. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what respects the evidence disclosed at the Messina trial at Tournai, of which he is aware, is insufficient to enable him to close the four brothels belonging to the Messina brothers, the addresses of which have already been communicated to him.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeA full record of the evidence given at Tournai is not yet available, but I am not aware of any disclosure which affects the Answer I gave to a similar Question by the right hon. Gentleman on 28th June. As I explained during the debate on 2nd instant, the mere use of premises for immoral purposes does not in law convert the premises into brothels.
§ 82. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact, confirmed by Sergeant Gentle of Scotland Yard at the recent trial of two of the Messina brothers at Tournai, that they had influence over 250 to 300 girls in London, what steps he proposes to take to close the premises which belong to them and are still used for immoral purposes.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI am informed that Sergeant Gentle gave no such evidence. As regards the second part126W of the Question, I would refer to the Answer I gave to a similar Question by the right hon. Gentleman on 28th June. I would only add that I have no power to close premises on the ground that they are used for immoral purposes.
§ Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority an officer of the Metropolitan Police stated in evidence in the courts at Tournai last week that reports had been received from Scotland Yard that four premises, 39, Curzon Street, 12, Chesterfield Street, 7, Stafford Street and the upper floors of 36, Shepherd Market, were still being used for improper purposes.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThis officer gave evidence from his own knowledge that these premises had been used for prostitution.
§ Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the five persons with criminal records to whom reference was made by Sergeant Gentle, of Scotland Yard, recently in the courts at Tournai are still resident in the United Kingdom; and how many of the premises owned by them, to which reference also was made by Sergeant Gentle, are still used for prostitution.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeTwo of the persons about whom Sergeant Gentle was questioned are at present in the United Kingdom. The police have no proof that any of the premises to which reference was made is in the ownership of any of these persons. The use of these or any other premises for prostitution does not necessarily constitute any offence.