HC Deb 03 July 1890 vol 346 cc669-70
EARL COMPTON (York, W.R., Barnsley)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether lie has received complaints from certain inhabitants in Monk Bretton, Barnsley, against the police in that district; whether he is aware that, since the complaints were made, one constable has been removed from the district; whether ho is aware that it is alleged that perjury was committed by the police, and that innocent persons have in several cases been fined; whether he is aware that application has been made to the Standing Joint Committee at Wakefield, who have replied that they are not a Court of Appeal, and have no power to review the decision of the Justices in the above-referred to cases; and whether he will take some steps in justice to those who were, it is stated, unjustly fined, as well as in justice to the accused police, to institute an inquiry into the whole matter?

MR. MATTHEWS

Yes, Sir; I have received such a complaint. I am informed by the Chief Constable that a constable has been lately removed from the district for the benefit of the Service, and not in consequence of any complaints or of impropriety on his part. General allegations have been made to me of perjury on the part of the police, but no particular case, in which justice is alleged to have miscarried, has been brought to my notice. I am informed by the Standing Joint Committee that a statement to the same effect has been laid before them, but, with one or two exceptions, the cases referred to had been tried before Justices, and the Committee could not re.try them. In many of the cases, moreover, I am informed that the prisoners summoned had pleaded guilty. The Chief Constable has, on two occasions, personally investigated, on the spot, these complaints, and the complainants have expressed themselves to him as being perfectly satisfied. Under these circumstances, I see no ground for interference on my part, but I am prepared to make careful inquiry into any particular case of alleged injustice if I am duly furnished with dates and particulars.