§ 25. Mrs. Shirley Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the result of his inquiries into recent police raids in south London on the homes of immigrants, for the purpose of checking passports.
§ Mr. R. CarrI understand that the Question relates to searches and visits to homes in North and East London on 11th and 25th October.
The police have a duty, while avoiding any harassment of immigrants as such, to follow up information relating to particular individuals or premises. The commissioner informs me that on both occasions the police were acting on information relating specifically to the 209W addresses searched or visited. On the first occasion five men were detained as illegal entrants, and on the second one man was arrested for overstaying.