Many London Pimps Are Immigrants

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30146, 1 June 1963, Page 11

Many London Pimps Are Immigrants

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON. May 31 Of 151 persons convicted of living on immoral earnings in the London metropolitan police district between July 1, 1962, and May 18 this year. 68 came from Commonwealth countries and 18 from Ireland, the Home Secretary (Mr Brooke) told Parliament yesterday. The district covers about 742 square miles and includes the Soho and other areas of London known for vice. Mr Brooke said that of the 86 from Commonwealth countries and the Irish Republic. 58 were not liable to deportation under the Commonwealth Immigrants' Act be-

cause they had lived in Britaiiii for at least five years. Mr Norman Pannell (Conservative), whose question had prompted Mr Brooke's statement, said the figures indicated that more than half the convictions were attributable to Commonwealth immigrants and immigrants from the Irish Republic.

Mr Pannell asked the Home Secretary: "Do you not really think it regrettable that the majority escape deportation because they have been in thus country for mqre than five years? Would you really take this into account and recognise that if this disability were removed, the incidence of these serious crimes in this country would be greatly reduced?”

Mr Brooke said he was prepared to take everything into account but it did seem anomalous if, while Britain was prepared to give naturalisation to foreigners after five years’ residence, she was to allow deportation of Commonwealth citizens who had been resident for five years Later, Mr Brooke told Mr Pannell that 522 people had been convicted of possessing dangerous drugs since the Commonwealth Immigrants Act came into force on July 1 last year Of these. 326 came from other parts of the Commonwealth and nearly half of them had been living tn Britain five years or more Mr Pannell said that as the Commonwealth immigrants were only 2 per cent, of the British population, the figures indicated that they were 25 times more prone to this offence than the average inhabitant of Britain.

Mr Brooke replied that he could give Mr Pannell no encouragement to think the Government would change the law.