§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, at the trial of Mr. George Tomkins, a Securicor guard testified that he had picked out a certain white man from photographs shown to him by the police; why this man was not arrested and why the Attorney-General declined to comment on this matter when asked to do so in a letter from a Member of Parliament.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)The man concerned had already been arrested and charged with seven offences, of which one related to this robbery. He is currently serving a sentence of five years, of which three years was the component for his part in the relevant crime. The evidence available to the police only supported a charge of counselling and procuring, and it was for this that the man concerned was subsequently convicted. My right honourable and learned friend has repeatedly explained these and other facts in a protracted correspondence with the noble Lord. So far as regards the last part of the noble Lord's Question, my right honourable and learned friend concluded that there was no purpose in continuing the correspondence. I agree with his view.