§ Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are given to members of the Metropolitan Police as to the circumstances under which they may remove a 153W motor vehicle without its driver's or owner's consent.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe circumstances in which the police are empowered to remove vehicles from the roads are laid down in the Removal of Vehicles (England and Wales) Regulations, 1957.
§ Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are given to members of the Metropolitan Police as to what constitutes obstruction by a motor vehicle.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe question of what constitutes an obstruction is one of law, and falls to be determined by the courts. The Commissioner of Police is responsible for enforcing the law and the instructions he issues, in this as in other operational matters, are confidential.
§ Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the minimum rank and length of service of the officers of the Metropolitan Police who decide that a motor car should be removed without its owner's or driver's consent.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that no officer below the rank of sergeant, who would normally have at least five years' service, is authorised to order the removal of a vehicle from the streets without the consent of the owner or driver.
§ Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken by the Metropolitan Police to prevent another motor car parking in the space left by a motor car which has been removed by police officers without its owner's or driver's consent, from a kerb-side position on which there is no indicated restriction of parking.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerOnly by constant supervision, which is not generally practicable, can the police prevent another vehicle from occupying the space left by a vehicle which has been removed.
§ Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when police officers of the Metropolitan Police commenced to remove motor cars without their owners' or drivers' consent in substantial numbers.
154W
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerWhen the Removal of Vehicles (England and Wales) Regulations, 1957, came into force on 1st May, 1957.
§ Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the monthly totals of motor cars removed by the Metropolitan Police without their owners' or drivers' consent for the year ended 31st May, 1960.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe totals for the thirteen periods of four weeks beginning on 1st June, 1959, and ending on 29th May, 1960, were as follows:
Period Ending Vehicles Removed 28th June,1959 … 1,870 26th July, 1959 … 2,282 23rd August, 1959 … 1,773 20th September, 1959 … 1,940 18th October, 1959 … 2,083 15th November, 1959 … 2,171 13th December,1959 … 3,699 10th January,1960 … 4,893 7th February, 1960 … 5,374 6thMarch, 1960 … 5,072 3rd April, 1960 … 4,861 1stMay, 1960 … 4,291 29thMay, 1960 … 4,586