HC Deb 29 July 1887 vol 318 cc535-6
MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether Police Constable Butler is still acting as warrant officer at the Clerken well Police Court; and, whether he will now state what course he proposes to take with reference to the conduct of Constable Butler?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)

I have directed that Police Constable Butler, who is still warrant officer at Clorkenwell, shall be brought before his superior officers for his misconduct at the Clerkonwell Police Court, for which he will be dealt with in the usual course of discipline, and receive such punishment as they think proper under the circumstances

MR. PICKERSGILL

asked, whether Constable Butler would not be removed from the position of warrant officer at Clerkenwell Police Court?

MR. MATTHEWS

replied, that a warrant officer was not usually withdrawn from the Police Court to which he was attached unless complaint was made by the magistrate, and in this case no such complaint had been made. The practical effect, however, of treating him as what was called a defaulter would be to suspend him from duty.

MR. PICKERSGILL

asked, whether it was not a fact that complaint had been made to Mr. Barstow in open Court by Miss Parton of the conduct of the policeman, and that Mr. Barstow had very rudely declined to hear a word from her?

MR. MATTHEWS

said, he was not aware of that fact; but he understood that an application had been made to Mr. Bridge, at Bow Street, for a summons against the constable for assault, and that it had been withdrawn, in order that the consequence which would inevitably follow—namely, the dismissal of the constable—might not ensue.