HC Deb 31 March 1892 vol 3 cc345-6
MR. J. O'CONNOR

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department have any allegations of a serious character reached the Police Authorities with regard to Inspector James Black, of Birmingham; did the Police Authorities take any steps to stop the public testimonials to Mr. Black which were on foot some weeks ago in Birmingham, and, if so, what was their reason for doing so; has the Home Office any authority over provincial Inspectors of Police such as Mr. Black; have such officers acted during the dynamite scare under the directions of the Home Office; and if the Home Office is not responsible for the provincial police, which Minister of the Crown in this House is so responsible?

MR. MATTHEWS

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Waterford on Monday last, and to which I have nothing to add. Mr. Black, who has retired from the Force on the pension due to 25 years' service, has, as I have already stated, informed me that he proposes to take legal action to vindicate his character from certain defamatory statements which have appeared in the newspapers against him, and I must decline to express any opinion about them. The answer to the second and fourth paragraphs of the question is, as I am informed, in the negative. The Home Office has no authority over provincial Inspectors of Police. It is not responsible for the discipline or conduct of the provincial police. It is the Local Authorities, and not any Minister of the Crown, who are so responsible.

MR. J. O'CONNOR

The Home Secretary has not answered that paragraph of my question which asks—"Have such officers acted during the dynamite scare under the directions of the Home Office; and if the Home Office is not responsible for the provincial police, which Minister of the Crown in this House is so responsible"?

MR. MATTHEWS

If the hon. Gentleman had listened to my previous answer he would have seen that I replied to that question.

MR. P. O'BRIEN

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary if he is aware that a distinguished officer of police, named French, in Ireland, made the same threats against the Press for exposing his misconduct, and was subsequently convicted of an abominable offence in Ireland; and whether, bearing that in mind, he will take any further action in the matter?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!