2 JANUARY 1959, Page 30

COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS

SIR,—I do not wish to obtrude upon you any view about this problem, but I venture one comment on the observations of Pharos, who is one of a very large company who write about 'statements of prosecution witnesses to be made on oath.'

So far as I know the only power to make anyone lake an oath or affirm, to such extent as it exists at all, rests with judicial authorities when a witness is summoned by subpoena to attend court ad testifican- dum.

Is Pharos altogether happy with the idea that a policeman should have power to compel anybody to

CONSTANTINE GALLOP

Reform Club, Pall Mall. SW I

[Pharos writes : 'There would be no need for a policeman to have such a power. If any witness objected to having the oath administered by a police- man, he would be entitled to give his evidence in private before a magistrate—Editor, Spectator.]