§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, at the Presentment Sessions held at Dungarvan on May 19, a police sergeant admitted that, although he believed the burning of a barn belonging to a Mr. Samuel Hood was an accident, he reported it as an "outrage;" and, whether his excuse for this was that, being bound to report the occurrence, he had no forms but such as were headed for "outrages?"
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Deputy Inspector General of Constabulary states that the sergeant did not report this case as an outrage, but as being an outrage in the opinion of Mr. Hood—an opinion from which the sergeant himself dissented. It was never recorded as an outrage.
§ MR. J. E. ELLISIs it correct that there were no other forms available?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAs I understand the matter, the police have only to report upon cases where outrages are alleged, and there is no objection to an allegation of an outrage being put on the form. It does not follow, however, that the case will find its way into the official statistics of outrages.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)Who decides that?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe person who is responsible for the statistics—the Inspector General.