§ Mr. Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that persons complaining to the police about alleged blackmail in respect of homosexual practices receive adequate protection against prosecution in respect of these practices.
§ Mr. BrookeThis is a matter for the discretion of chief officers of police; but my information is that it has for some time now been the usual practice that the Director of Public Prosecutions is first consulted, and that proceedings are taken only in grave or exceptional cases or where the complaint is not madebona fide. Persons who are blackmailed in respect of homosexual practices can therefore report the blackmail to the police without fear generally that they will themselves be prosecuted.