SIR HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, having regard to the action taken by the City Councils of Sheffield and Liverpool as to the training of their police forces in the use of a rifle, with a view to co-operation in the work 503 of national defence with the disciplined men of the county, city, and borough constabulary, he will permit similar action to be taken by the police of the metropolis; and, whether he has any objection to constables joining Volunteer corps at their own expense, like the remainder of the civil population, and discharging its duties in their own time, provided no objection is entertained by the several Joint and Watch Committees under whom they serve.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonI do not see my way to giving to the police of the metropolis the facilities suggested by the hon. Members. Besides the great objection to turning the police, into anything like a military police, it is obvious that in a time of national emergency it would not be practicable to relieve constables of their ordinary duties in order that they might join the troops. On the contrary, the probability is that at such a time the police force would have to be strengthened. I fear that constables could not discharge the duties of a Volunteer in their own time.
SIR HOWARD VINCENTWill that apply to provincial police forces who have taken this action with the approval of their Watch Committees?
§ * MR. RITCHIEI do not like to offer any opinion on the action of the Watch Committees, but my hon. and gallant friend can gather what my view of the matter is.