HC Deb 04 March 1901 vol 90 cc379-80
MR. NANNETTI

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the recent reduction of ten third-class inspectors of the Thames Division of the Metropolitan Police to the rank of constables for a breach of the regulations will affect the pensions of the men, some of whom have been in the service for nearly a quarter of a century; and whether, in view of the severity of the punishment, ho will order a fresh inquiry, with a view to a mitigation of the punishment.

*MR. RITCHIE

The amount of these men's pensions will, of course, be contingent on the amount of their salary immediately previous to their retire- ment. Having made inquiry into the matter I see no reason at all for a reconsideration of the decision in their case.

MR. NANNETTI

What was the actually committed by these men?

*MR. RITCHIE

Certain constables, on one pretence or another, wont along the river collecting money from various wharfingers. They were punished for it, and in the course of the inquiry it transpired that ten third-class inspectors had connived at the action and shared the spoils. They confessed to it. They were punished, and, I think, not too severely.