Mr. ArthurLewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the growing practice, particularly in the Metropolitan Police area, of motorists falsely exhibiting "Tax Applied For" notices on their vehicles when the licence has not been applied for; and how many successful prosecutions for this offence have been instituted by the Metropolitan Police under Section 16(1) of the Theft Act, 1968, for the longest convenient stated period of time, and with what penalties imposed.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganThe Metropolitan Police have included vehicles displaying such notices amongst those which they have reported to licensing authorities as being apparently unlicensed. The police have brought no prosecutions under the Theft Act in these cases.