§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if it is on his authority that the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police refuses to allow the solicitors acting for the widow of the late P.C. 161469 M. D. Ince to interview Inspector John Robinson of Holborn Police Station; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what directions he has given to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police on the interviewing of police officers by solicitors acting for claimants to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what directions he has given to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police on the appearance of police officers as witnesses at the request of solicitors acting for claimants to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he will call for reports from chief constables as to the practice of police authorities with regard to supplying statements in their possession to the 129W Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and to the attendance of police officers as witnesses at the Board's request; and if he will make a statement;
(5) if he will now seek to ensure that the solicitors acting for the widow of the late P.C. 161469 M. D. Ince are no longer restricted from interviewing Inspector John Robinson of Holborn Police Station, or from calling him as a witness before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.
§ Mr. MaudlingI understand that Inspector Robinson has given evidence to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and that Mr. Ince's solicitors have now no wish to interview him.
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that in similar cases in future interviews will usually be granted, but that each case will need to be considered on its merit. No similar difficulty seems to have arisen elsewhere and I see no need to call for reports from other chief officers of police.
These are matters within the discretion or the appropriate chief officer, and it is not for me to give directions.