Report from the Select Committee on Contagious Diseases Acts, together with the proceedings of the committee, minutes of evidence, and appendix, 1882.

Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on the Contagious Diseases Acts.

Date:: 1882

Credit: Report from the Select Committee on Contagious Diseases Acts, together with the proceedings of the committee, minutes of evidence, and appendix, 1882. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

764/882 (page 640)

$Report, l88-2—continued. BendcU, Serjeant John. (Analysis of his Evidence)—contimud. lehitivcs into the hanack-iooms ; in llie case of Souiboy and tlie other woman, at Christ- mas, pusses had not been granted, 755'-7656- Bible Christian Conference. Resolution of the Bible Christian Conference held at Ports- moutli in July 1878 in condemnaiion of the Contagious Diseases Acts as tending to perpetuate immorality, and in favour of their abolition, App. 591. Bompass, Mr., Q.C. Recent speech in favour of the Acts by ]\Ir. Bompass, who is a member of the B;iptist bodv, TresIrailS2o6, 5207 Reckless character ol' the evidence given by Air. Bonipuss on the ^bject of the Acts when before the Congregational Union, Gledslone 5555-5o(^^- Bristol. Satisfactory operation of the voluntary Lock Ilospitid at Bristol, Cooper 3842- 3844- Brothels: 1. Poioers and Action 0/ the Police, and Effect thereof. 2. Brohi/ntioii of Pensioners from keeping Brothels. 3. Conipliiiiit as to the Bclalions between the Police under the Conloyious Diseases Acts and the Brothd-heepcrs. 4. Siif/f/cstions for more strvH/ent liegitlation and Supervision nf Brolhels. 6. Conclusitnis and Recommendalions of the Commiitee. 1. Powers and Action of the Police, and Effect thereof: Non-interference of the local police (as at Plymouth) with brothels if not disorderly ; intcrfeieiue when liquor is sold without a license, JVreford 290-294. 316-322 Power under tiie Contagious Diseases Acts to prosecute and fine brothel-keepeis for harbouring diseased prostitutes, but not to close the houses; more effectual power under the Licens- ing Acts, Bruttun 636 641. 648-653. 706-709. 803-805 Opportunities of the police under the Contagious Diseases Acts lor supplying information relative to brothels, Cosser io;^-i037 Expediency of the interference of the police in the closing of brothels, as at Glasgow, Baker 2308-2310. Circumstance of the police under the Acts never taking the initiative in the closing of broliiels, nor is there any power in the Acts to that effect. Cooper 3886-3888 Con- stant opportunities of witness for ascertaining that the brothel-keepeis and the older j)roslitutts thoionghly approve of the Acts, j'Z). 3889-3896 Complaint tliat tiie Acts uiake no provision fur the suppression of bruihels, but only (or the examination of women ; ' aigument therefrom that the brothel-keeper becomes an instrument in carrying out the policy of the Acts, Gledslone 4499-4512. Definition of a brothel, as explained by witness, different to that laid down in C.iptaiu IIarrii>'Report, Miller 9615-9617 Impossibility for the police to take any action against brothel keept-is unless upon the information of two inhabitants, when they are bound to pnisecule, ib. 9690-9706 Advantage of the reduced employment of young servants in brothels in Plymoulh and Devonport through the reduced number of the latter, Z?«co7n&e 102S5, 10286. 10511, 10512 Admission that brothels may be sup- pressed irrespectively of the Acts, and that the Acts have nothing directly to do with their suppression ; as a matter of fact, however, the reduction in Plymuulh dates from the application of the Acts, ib. 10475-10487. Important power cf witness over people who harbour prostitutes, by reason of his right to take pioceedinus in tases where the latter are diseased, ^W7!2,s« 10841-I0845 Authority possessed by the police serving under the Acts to enter public-houses and brothels in search of deserters ; entrance into these jilaces obtained generally with the object of ascertaining uheiher they are U'^ed as brothels, ib. 11764-11766. 2. Prohibition of Pensioners from keej)ing Brothels: Course adopted by the police at Plymouth in reporting Admiralty pensioners who are known to be keepinij l.rotlipls; orders to this effect received by witness from the super- intendent, ^7i;»'ss 1 1 740-1 1 754 Suspension of a pension if the individual continues to kee]) the brothel, ib. 11750-11754 Equal power not given to the local police with regard to reporting pensioneis, ib. 11757-11763. Ciicular instruction in May 1874 in prohibition of the keeping of brothels by persons in receipt of pensions from Her Majesty's service, App. 603. 3. Complaint as to the Pelatioiis between the Police under the Contar/ious Diseases Acts and the Bruthel-heepers : Personal inquiry by witness showing that brothel-keepers at Chatham are reccgnised, and not inteifered with, by the police under the Acts, whose visits are made entirely for the sake of obtaining information as to the women who may be on the premises ; strong comment$