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81
DISORDERLY CHARACTERS IN STREETS.
The instructions which were issued by the Commissioners
of the Metropolitan Police to Police Constables to discontinue
apprehending women guilty of solicitation in public streets,
unless they were charged by an aggrieved party, naturally
led to an increase in the nightly disorder in the streets of the
West End of London. The Vestry having had their attention
drawn to the matter, and considered the question,
addressed a letter to the Home Secretary, suggesting that
power should be conferred upon Courts of Summary Jurisdiction
to deport to their own country foreign women convicted
of loitering in the streets for the purposes of
prostitution or solicitation, upon the pain of imprisonment
or heavy fine if they repeat the offence in the Metropolis.
Although the adoption of this course would not entirely
remove disorder, the Vestry are persuaded it would have a
beneficial result, their experience in prosecuting brothelkeepers
sufficiently showing that the worst cases of depravity
are invariably to be found among the foreign women. An
acknowledgment of the letter was received in due course, but
no further action has been taken by the Government so far
as the Vestry are aware.
MARLBOROUGH STREET POLICE COURT.
It came to the knowledge of the Vestry early in April,
although not by any official communication, that the
Government had under consideration a proposal to abolish
Marlboroagh Street Police Court. Having regard to the
requirements of the district, the peculiar nature of much of
the business transacted at this Court, its excellent situation
and convenient structural arrangement for the reception and
g