22 OCTOBER 1927, Page 2

The Home Secretary has appointed the promised Committee to inquire

into the law and practice in regard to "street offences." The Committee will have a capable chairman in Mr. Hugh Macmillan. When the Home Secretary originally decided to appoint the Committee he had before him only complaints from women's organiza- tions that the law of solicitation worked very unjustly. They asked that no woman should be charged unless the man who. was -alleged to have been " annoyed " was willing to give evidence. The bringing of charges against women for soliciting is, so far as we know, the only occasion on which evidence of character is laid before a Court before guilt has been proved.

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