Contempt out of Court
| Published date | 01 July 1973 |
| Date | 01 July 1973 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X7304600306 |
| Subject Matter | Contempt Out of Court |
constable or his officers proceed to assemble a case (the accusatorial
system). The efficiency and approach of police forces (usually
fewer in number in continental countries than here) vary; some
will welcome foreign contacts, others lack language skills, others
still simply not want any contact.
There is no talk yet in Brussels of a European Criminal Code or
aEuropean Flying Squad. The police are inhibited by their con-
stitutional position and corporate traditions from any lobbying
for such changes. Yet as people - and money - become more
European and more international, will there not be a case for a
supranational police force?
CONTEMPT OUT OF COURT
Dear Sir,
Police powers of arrest for contempt of court are not clearly
defined in text books, and a press report of a recent case at Teesside
does not indicate by what process the defendant made his way from
street to dock. Mr. Bernard Levin's reaction (The Times, May 24)
reminds me of an incident some years back when a bus driver got
his vehicle in between a police motor cycle escort and a car
returning an Assize Judge to court after lunch, causing natural
judicial annoyance. Summoned to the court forthwith as senior
police officer I was directed by the Judge's marshal to bring the
bus driver before his Lordship, but unclear as to the law on the
point I asked him to put this in writing, such as by a bench war-
rant for the man to be arrested. This he declined to do.
Pending the next move, with the ready co-operation of the bus
manager, the driver was quickly identified, the facts gathered from
police on duty on escort, the High Sheriff's chauffeur, the conductor
of the bus and an explanation voluntarily given by the bus driver.
Returning to the Court (but not accompanied by the bus driver)
I gave the marshal the facts and soon after was called to his Lord-
ship's room to be thanked for the attention I had given and asked
to tell the bus manager that the driver's explanation was accepted
and no further action was desired. I need not add that during the
remainder of that Assize great care was taken to make adequate
police arrangements for the short journey from lodgings to court
and back. Yours faithfully,
"The Officer Concerned."
249 July 1973
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