§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Greater Manchester as to the authority under which police officers(a) arrested and (b) handed over to American military authorities Mrs. Laurie Clare Marlborough of Heaton Norris, Stockport, and as to whether the code of practice under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act was observed in relation to her arrest and detention;
(2) when Her Majesty's Government was informed under the terms of the 1951 Agreement regarding the status of forces of parties to the North Atlantic Treaty by the United States Government that Mrs. Laurie Clare Marlborough of Heaton Norris, Stockport, was a deserter from the United States Navy; what requests were made by the United States Government; what response was made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 7 April 1989]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the chief constable of Greater Manchester 34W police that the Metropolitan police were informed on 19 October 1988 that Mrs. Marlborough was a deserter from the United States Navy. After inquiries regarding her nationality status had been completed, Stockport police were requested on 29 March 1989 to arrest her. Mrs. Marlborough was arrested on the same day under section 13 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 and handed over to the United States Navy authorities on the following day.
I further understand that the provisions of the codes of practice under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 were fully complied with; and that the matter is now the subject of a complaint which is being investigated under the provisions of part IX of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.