§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the police in the Brixton area of London carry out his guidelines relating to identification parades being held in police stations and that no further such parades are held at underground railway stations; whether he will cause an investigation to be made into the extent of this practice; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MayhewThe guidance to the police contained in Home Office circular 109/1978 envisages that, in case in which it is not possible to assemble sufficient people who resemble a suspect to enable a fair identification parade to be held at a police station in accordance with the identification parade rule, alternative arrangements may be made to allow the witness an opportunity of seeing him in a group of people. Underground stations may be used for this purpose at the discretion of the chief officer of police concerned, and my right hon. Friend has no present grounds for considering an investigation necessary.