§ MR. H. J. WILSON (York, W. R., Holmfirth)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant by what means, in the absence of distinguishing numbers, a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, who may be wanted as a witness or defendant in legal proceedings, can be identified; whether any instructions exist requiring the men and officers of the constabulary to give assistance in the identification of members of that body for the purpose of such proceedings; and whether there is any objection to the English practice in regard to distinguishing numbers being introduced among the Irish Constabulary?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary reports, with regard to paragraphs 1 and 2, that every member of the force who may be wanted in the circumstances mentioned is bound to give his name when asked, and his officers or his comrades are bound to give assistance if required; and as regards paragraph 3, that he is not of opinion that any necessity exists for assigning distinguishing numbers throughout the force generally, and that any attempt to keep up any general system of such numbers would prove extremely embarrassing, in view of the removals of men both in bodies and as individuals constantly taking place in all parts of Ireland.
MR. MAC NEILL (Donegal, S.)Have not the Dublin Metropolitan Police distinguishing marks; do they not wear numbers and also letters of the alphabet?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI stated the other day that in several of the large towns the police have distinguishing marks.