§ 50. Sir L. Healdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any notice was given to the 105W Metropolitan Police of an intention to transport a consignment of gold, valued at £750,000, across North London on 1st May; whether he will now take steps to secure that the police will always have a proper opportunity of providing protection in similar circumstances; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI understand that notice was not given to the police on this occasion. It is the normal responsibility of the firms concerned to take adequate security measures to safeguard valuable loads and to decide whether to inform the police. When the police are informed, the chief officer of police decides whether protection should be afforded, bearing in mind other police commitments and the nature of the load. The police are very ready to advise firms on security measures.
I should perhaps add for the information of the House that the Standing Committee on Crime Prevention which I recently established is giving priority to a study of means of improving the security of valuable loads in transit.