§ MR. BRIGG (Yorkshire, W.R., Keighley)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state in how many districts in Ireland there is such an absence of crime that he has felt justified in allowing the police to patrol singly; and what number of new districts have been so dealt with during the present year.
MR. BRYCEI understand that the system of one-man patrols by day was introduced into certain counties in Ireland in October, 1903, and that since June, 1904, that system has been in force in all counties without exception. County inspectors, however, are given the discretion of detailing two-men patrols for duty by day in any locality in which they may consider it requisite. This course has, I am informed, been found necessary in but few localities. The system of one-man patrols does not apply to night duty.