HC Deb 10 February 1888 vol 322 cc151-2
MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Constable Bloy, of the Metropolitan Police, who, upon the 25th ultimo, charged a young woman at the West Ham Police Court, before Mr. Ernest Baggallay, with being drunk and disorderly, when the learned magistrate stated that he could not rely on the constable's evidence, and dismissed the charge; whether, by direction of Sir Charles Warren, a memorandum was subsequently read out to the constables of the district over which Mr. Baggallay has jurisdiction exonerating Bloy; whether Bloy has now been removed from West Ham; and, if so, why, and upon what duty is he employed; and, whether he proposes to take any steps with reference to the issue of the said memorandum?

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

Yes, Sir; my attention has been called to this matter. Such a memorandum was read to Bloy and the other constables of the division who were connected with the case. It expressed the result of an inquiry which the Commissioner held in consequence of the observations that fell from the magistrate, in order to determine what action he ought to take as regards Bloy. In that inquiry evidence was taken from three police-constables who had not been called before the magistrate. I am informed that Police-constable Bloy has been temporarily transferred from Plaistow, and is employed on police duties. I have been in correspondence with the learned magistrate on the subject of the issue of this memorandum, and I have tendered to him explanations which have been, I trust, satisfactory to him.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

Why has the constable been transferred to Poplar, and how long is he likely to remain there?

MR. MATTHEWS

I am unable to answer the latter part of the Question. My information merely is that he is employed in another district on duty appertaining to his office of constable.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

Is he transferred temporarily?

MR. MATTHEWS

Temporarily.

An hon. MEMBER: Why?

[No reply.]