asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to make the public more aware of the ways in which they can help the police in the execution of their duty; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue a circular setting out the duties of members of the public in coming to the assistance of police officers on duty who are attempting to deal with breaches of the peace.

I am anxious to bring home to members of the public that it is their duty under common law to help a constable in preventing or dealing with a breach of the peace when called upon to do so; and I hope that these Questions and my reply may help to achieve that. I doubt whether the issue of a circular would be appropriate. The best advice to a member of the public who is asked to help is to follow the directions of the police officer on the spot.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the existing procedure acts as a deterrent? Will not he establish the principle that any member of the public coming to the rescue of a police officer is automatically entitled to compensation for any loss or damage he may sustain in coming to the rescue of the officer?

I answered a Question on this subject the other day. It is the duty of a member of the public to come to the help of a police officer if he is called upon, and there are various funds in the different police forces from which payment can be made to members of the public who suffer any injury in so doing.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the hon. Member for Bristol, North-East (Mr. Hopkins) and myself put these two Questions down because of remarks made by the Lord Mayor of Bristol on this subject? Would he not agree that in the public's mind there is perhaps a little uncertainty as to how a member of the public might help, and will he continue to do all that he can to clear up this uncertainty?

Yes, Sir. I am very much obliged to the Lord Mayor of Bristol for what he said recently on this subject, and I hope that these Questions and Answers will reinforce his remarks.

The Home Secretary said that it was the duty of the public to come to the assistance of a police officer if called upon to do so. Could he clear up this point a little further? Is it not the duty of a member of the public to assist a police officer even if not called upon to do so, and, if I am wrong about that, is his liability increased if he intervenes without being called upon to do so?

There is a clear duty on a member of the public to come to his assistance if called upon to do so, but there is also a general duty on all members of the public to assist in the maintenance of public law and order.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the new scheme for compensating victims of crimes of violence will apply to those cases, and would it not help to encourage the public to play their full part?

Yes, Sir. I hope that it will.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that it is the duty of the public to assist the police whether they are in uniform or not?

Yes, Sir. That is so.