§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that some watch committees constituted under the 1964 Police Act will exclude those of their members appointed in their capacity of magistrates from certain of their discussions; and whether he will issue a circular to watch committees giving guidance as to whether magistrates may be excluded from certain deliberations of the Committee not within the scope of the funtions laid down by the 1964 Act.
§ Miss BaconI understand that some local authorities may have found it convenient to delegate certain non-police functions formerly exercised by old style watch committees (such as the licensing of hackney carriages and theatres) to a separate committee consisting of councillors who are also members of the new watch committee. Such a committee would be separate from the watch committee itself and would not exercise the functions of the police authority.
It does not seem necessary to issue any general advice about this.