§ MR. SCHWANNI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that inhabitants resident on and near Clapham Common subscribe for one or two additional constables owing to the general insecurity of property in that neighbourhood owing to frequent burglaries; and that, in some gardens connected with various squares in London, private policemen are paid for by the adjacent occupiers in addition to their ordinary rates for police protection; and, if so, will he reconsider the decision of a late Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police not to protect the backs of houses which abut on gardens, usually locked by gates at night, although easily scaled.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sThere are a considerable number of cases (particulars of which will be found in the Commissioners' Annual Report) in which additional constables are appointed at the cost of private persons under Section 8 of the Metropolitan Police Act, 1839. One such constable is employed in the neighbourhood of Clapham Common; but I am not aware that there is general insecurity of property there. As regards the latter part of the Question, a police regulation has long been in force forbidding 121 constables to leave their beats to enter or patrol private grounds except when they have reason to believe that an offence is being, or is likely to be, committed; and in the opinion of the Commissioner it is necessary in the public interest that this regulation should be maintained.