§ MR. RADCLIFFE COOKE (Hereford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to an article in The Pall Mall Gazette of the 17th instant, entitled "Why the C Division is demoralised" (meaning the C Division of the Metropolitan Police), in which allegations of gross misconduct are made against the members of the said C Division; and whether, in the interests of the Force as well as of the public, he will cause an inquiry to be made into the accuracy of such allegations?
§ MR. ASQUITHMy attention has been called to the article, and, after communication with the Chief Commissioner, I am able to state that the whole story is untrue from beginning to end. The Division is in a high state of discipline under the superintendence of an officer second to none in the whole Force, and regular visits are paid to the locality referred to by superior officers both by day and night.