MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Regulations of the Metropolitan Police Force prohibit constables from recording their votes in Vestry or other elections while on duty; whether constables were punished recently for voting in a Vestry election at Walthamstow, although they were on duty in the immediate vicinity of the polling station, and were not therefore absent from their beat; and whether he will cause such an alteration of the Police Regulations as will allow all constables entitled to the franchise to exercise it without fear of punishment?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe answer to the first and second paragraphs of the question is in the negative. Circumstances might arise which would prevent constables recording their votes at the polling station at which they would be entitled to vote, but in such cases the constables have the benefit of the 2nd section of the Police Disability Removal Act of 1887. As there are no Police Regulations prohibiting constables from voting while on duty, and as no constable or constables have been punished for voting no action on my part is necessary.