HC Deb 25 March 1965 vol 709 cc113-5W
22. Mr. W. T. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue instructions to the police authority within his jurisdiction to take action when tenants are evicted contrary to the provisions of the Protection from Eviction Act 1965.

28. Mr. Freeson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will require chief constables and the Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to report to him on action taken by the police to prevent illegal evictions when no court orders for possession have been produced by landlords in support of notices to quit, as required by the Protection from Eviction Act 1964.

42. Mr. Crawshaw

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that prosecutions under the Protection from Eviction Act are being initiated against landlords who unlawfully evict tenants; and if he will make a statement.

50. Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions of landlords have been initiated under the Protection from Eviction Act; and whether he is satisfied with the procedure whereby the power to enforce the provisions of the Act rests with local authorities.

Mr. George Thomas

I would refer the hon. Members to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mrs. Lena Jeger) and South-East Derbyshire (Mr. Park) on 17th February. It is not for my right hon. Friend to issue instructions on the initiation of proceedings in individual cases, but he is sending further general advice to chief constables about the way in which the police can best assist local authorities in the enforcement of the 1964 Act. It is too early to seek detailed information about the number of prosecutions under the Act, but my right hon. Friend proposes, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government, to keep in close touch with the situation.

39. Mr. Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has sent to the letter from the Birmingham Town Clerk protesting that it is not appropriate for the duty of prosecuting under the Protection from Eviction Act to be laid, as suggested authorities, and that it should be part of the ordinary police function to prosecute under the Act for the criminal offence of improper eviction of tenants; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. George Thomas

My right hon. Friend does not consider that it would be generally appropriate for prosecutions for offences against Section 1 of the Act to be undertaken by the police, who have no specialist knowledge in this field, but he is anxious that the police should give all possible help to local authorities in the enforcement of the Act. My right hon. Friend is sending further general advice to chief constables about this. A reply in this sense has been sent to the Town Clerk of Birmingham.

43. Mr. Crawshaw

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions of landlords for unlawful eviction of tenants have been initiated since the passing of the Protection from Eviction Act.

Mr. George Thomas

I regret that the information is not available, and it is too early to call for a special return.