HC Deb 25 May 1900 vol 83 c1295
CAPTAIN NORTON

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of a Metropolitan police constable who was prosecuted for theft at the County of London Sessions on 13th October, 1899, and acquitted, but was thereupon dismissed the force, and practically recharged with the offence in the police orders; and whether he will consider the advisability of inquiring into the facts of the case, and of ascertaining the opinion of the learned Judge who tried the case, with a view to relieving the dismissed constable from the stigma cast upon him, and of compensating him for any injury he has sustained.

* THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, Blackpool

This constable was punished for being off his beat—which he admitted—and for drinking on duty, which he denied, but which was conclusively proved. The jury having acquitted him of stealing the beer, that charge was not dealt with in any way. Apart altogether from the allegation of theft, his conduct was in the opinion of the Commissioner of Police such as to show him to be an unfit person to be a police officer, and he was therefore dismissed.

CAPTAIN NORTON

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it did not appear in the police orders of 13th October as follows— P. C. —, found in a yard on his beat, drinking beer from a bottle which had been taken from a van in the yard. Considered unfit for the police force. Does not that prove—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

They must get expensively drunk.