Motor Vehicles (Noise)

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 5 November 1959.

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Photo of Mr Tom Iremonger Mr Tom Iremonger , Ilford North 12:00, 5 November 1959

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received by the Metropolitan Police concerning excessive noise caused by the exhausts of various classes of motor vehicles; and how many prosecutions and how many convictions have ensued.

Photo of Mr David Renton Mr David Renton , Huntingdonshire

I regret that no record is available of the number of complaints received. In the first seven months of this year, there were 404 prosecutions and 385 convictions in the Metropolitan Police District for the offences of using a motor vehicle with defective silencing equipment or in such a way as to cause excessive noise.

Photo of Mr Tom Iremonger Mr Tom Iremonger , Ilford North

Could my hon. and learned Friend tell the House what is the attitude of the police to complaints by citizens about exceptional noise, to what extent such complaints are required to be corroborated by witnesses, and how many witnesses are acceptable?

Photo of Mr David Renton Mr David Renton , Huntingdonshire

When a complaint is received, the Commissioner makes arrangements to have the matter followed up by having the section of road to which the complaint relates specially patrolled and then very often a prosecution follows. Corroboration is not generally necessary.