§ MR. EYKYNasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been drawn to the report of a case brought before the magistrate at Hammersmith Police Court, the statement being that an unfortunate man, after being handcuffed by two constables, was made fast to the stirrup of one of the mounted patrol, who dragged the prisoner along the road and caused him much suffering; and, If such violence is permitted by the rules laid down for the guidance of the police; and, if so, will the Commissioners take such steps as will prevent its recurrence?
MR. BRUCE, in answer to the first part of the question, said, there was considerable doubt with respect to the charge to which it related, and which was now being investigated by the magistrate. The object of the inquiry was to ascertain the facts of the alleged violence, and, if true, to take steps to prevent its recurrence in future. Considering, he might add, that within the last year there were 3,325 charges of assault on the metropolitan police, while only one such charge was brought against the police, and that broke down, 792 no case had, he thought, been made for the alteration of the rules. He felt bound further to say that he thought his hon. Friend might have waited a little time, and have given the Chief Commissioner credit for doing that which was right. If for every misdeed, or alleged misdeed, of the police in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Devonshire, or Sussex Questions like the present were asked, he feared that a very considerable part of the time of the House of Commons would be taken up.