§ 65. Sir W. Wakefieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that on 27th December, 1957, on returning to his residence, Dr. J. G. Fairer left his car outside his residence in Wimpole Street, and, in spite of the car bearing a label "Charing Cross Hospital Staff," a British Medical Association badge, and a notice under the windscreen wiper saying where Dr. Fairer was, the police towed his car away without reference to the receptionist at Dr. Fairer's house, thus causing him to be nearly an hour late for his next appointment at Charing Cross Hospital; and if he will issue instructions to the police not to remove cars in this area bearing such labels without first communicating with the owner.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that on 17th December Dr. Fairer's car was parked94W opposite a bombed site next to No. 42, Wimpole Street, in such a way as to cause serious obstruction. There were continuous lines of parked cars down both sides of the street and Dr. Fairer's car was one of three forming a third line. As the roadway is 27 ft. 3 in. wide, traffic was reduced to a single line and heavy goods vehicles could not pass at all. The label and badge displayed on Dr. Fairer's car indicated that it was a doctor's car, but a small piece of paper bearing Dr. Fairer's name and address which was wrapped around the arm of the windscreen wiper was not noticed. The police, in accordance with their usual practice, tried to find the owner before deciding to remove the car.
§ 66. Sir W. Wakefieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the police prevented Dr. Jerome Sturridge from collecting his car for one and a half hours at Paddington Green Police Station on 1st January, 1958, after they had towed it away.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that Dr. Sturridge arrived at the police station to collect his car at about 12.50 p.m. and left with it at about 1.15 p.m. He was therefore at the station for about twenty-five minutes only. This time, which was spent in checking the car and its contents and in taking action in relation to the alleged offence of obstruction of the highway, could, if the owner had willed, have been reduced.