CIRCULAR.
Downing Street,
15th September, 1897.
523
WITH reference to Lord Knutsford's Circular despatch of the 14th February, 1891, relating to the arrest of Fugitive Offenders, I have the honour to inform you that, in order to facilitate the arrest of Fugitive Offenders from this country, it is proposed that in future the Secretary of State for Home Affairs should communicate directly with some Authority in a Colony for the arrest of an offender, in the same way that Colonial Governments are authorised to communicate directly with Police Authorities in this country in the case of a fugitive offender from the Colonies; and unless you see any objection to this proposal, I have to request to be informed to what Colonial Officer your Government would wish telegrams and letters in such matters should be addressed in order to secure the utmost expedition possible. The Officer selected should be in possession of the "Telegraph Code for the use of the Police," and I shall be glad to be informed at the same time whether the Officer is the one already authorised to communicate with the Metropolitan Police.
In the case of any telegram being sent from the Home Office applying for the arrest of a fugitive, it is to be understood that the payment of any expenses thereby incurred is guaranteed by the Imperial Government.
The Secretary of State for the Home Department has also suggested that in order to obviate the delay and expense often entailed by sending out a Police Officer to receive a prisoner, it might be possible to arrange for the conveyance of a prisoner in the custody of the master of a ship under Section 27 of the Fugitive Offenders Act, 1881. Sir Matthew Ridley is not aware of any difficulty having arisen in the cases where prisoners have been removed under the Act without being in the custody of a Police Officer, and he would be glad to learn whether your Government will be able to adopt this procedure in cases where the Home Office desires it.
On the receipt of the replies to this Circular despatch a further communication will be addressed to you, stating the date on which the new arrangement would come into effect, and containing a list of a few additions to the Telegraph Code which will facilitate its operation.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
Page 14
Downing Street,
24th July, 1899.
SIR,
WITH reference to my Circular despatch of the 15th September, 1897, I have the honour to inform you that the procedure proposed therein, in connection with the arrest of Fugitive Offenders, will come into operation on the 1st October next.
I enclose a Memorandum containing instructions with regard to telegraphic communications between the Home Office and Colonial Police Authorities.
It should be understood that the procedure now to be introduced in order to facilitate the provisional arrest in the Colonies of fugitives from the United Kingdom does not involve any change in the arrangements made in 1891, and described in Lord Knutsford's Circular despatch of the 14th February of that year, whereby the arrest of fugitives from a Colony can be provisionally obtained in this country by a telegram addressed either to an Agent General for a responsible Government Colony or the Metropolitan Police, without the intervention of the Home Government.
I have to add that in future not only will telegrams asking for the arrest of offenders be sent to the Colonies from the Home Office, but also subsequent communications respecting their surrender to this country, unless exceptional circumstances should arise making the intervention of this Department desirable. Written communications, however, will in the ordinary course be addressed to the Governors of the Colonies and not to the Police and other authorities to whom telegrams, for the sake of expedition, will in the first instance be sent.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
The Officer Administering the Government of
Page 15
14
CIRCULAR.
Downing Street,
CIRCULAR.
523
15
SIB,
15th September, 1897.
WITH reference to Lord Knutsford's Circular despatch of the 14th February, 1891, relating to the arrest of Fugitive Offenders, I have the honour to inform yon that, in order to facilitate the arrest of Fugitive Offenders from this country, it is proposed that in future the Secretary of State for Home Affairs should communicate directly with some Authority in a Colony for the arrest of an offender, in the same way that Colonial Governments are authorised to communicate directly with Police Authorities in this country in the case of a fugitive offender from the Colonies; and unless you see any objection to this proposal, I have to request to be informed to what Colonial Officer your Government would wish telegrams and letters in such matters should be addressed in order to secure the utmost expedition possible. The Officer selected should be in possession of the "Telegraph Code for the use of the Police," and I shall be glad to be informed at the same time whether the Officer is the one already authorised to communicate with the Metropolitan Police.
In the case of any telegram being sent from the Home Office applying for the arrest of a fugitive, it is to be understood that the payment of any expenses thereby incurred is guaranteed by the Imperial Government.
The Secretary of State for the Home Department has also suggested that in order to obviate the delay and expense often entailed by sending out a Police Officer to receive a prisoner, it might be possible to arrange for the conveyance of a prisoner in the custody of the master of a ship under Section 27 of the Fugitive Offenders Act, 1881. Sir Matthew Ridley is not aware of any difficulty having arisen in the cases where prisoners have been removed under the Act without being in the custody of a Police Officer, and he would be glad to learn whether your Government will be able to adopt this procedure in cases where the Home Office desires it.
On the receipt of the replies to this Circular despatch a further communication will be addressed to you, stating the date on which the new arrangement would come into effect, and containing a list of a few additions to the Telegraph Code which will facilitate its operation.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
SIR,
Downing Street,
24th July, 1899.
WITH reference to my Circular despatch of the 15th September, 1897, I have the honour to inform you that the procedure proposed therein, in connection with the arrest of Fugitive Offenders, will come into operation on the 1st October next.
I enclose a Memorandum containing instructions with regard to telegraphic communi- cations between the Home Office and Colonial Police Authorities.
It should be understood that the procedure now to be introduced in order to facilitate the provisional arrest in the Colonies of fugitives from the United Kingdom does not involve any change in the arrangements made in 1891, and described in Lord Knutsford's Circular despatch of the 14th February of that year, whereby the arrest of fugitives from a Colony can be provisionally obtained in this country by a telegram addressed either to an Agent General for a responsible Government Colony or the Metropolitan Police, without the intervention of the Home Governinent,
I have to add that in future not only will telegrains asking for the arrest of offenders be sent to the Colonies from the Home Office, but also subsequent communications respecting their surrender to this country, unless exceptional circumstances should arise making the intervention of this Department desirable. Written communications, however, will in the ordinary course be addressed to the Governors of the Colonies and not to the Police and other authorities to whom telegrams, for the sake of expedition, will in the first instance be sent.
The Officer Administering
the Government of
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
The Officer Administering
the Government of
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