HC Deb 10 July 1906 vol 160 cc720-1
DR. COOPER (Southwark, Bermondsey)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to say by whom the application was made for the services of the Metropolitan Police to keep order at the recent race meeting at Ascot; by whom the request was granted; and how much was charged for the services of the police.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.

The police maintaining order at Ascot were applied for by Mr. Clement, the clerk of the course, Lieutenant-Colonel Carter, on behalf of the Grand Stand Trustees, the secretaries of the Coaching Club, the Four-in-Hand Club, and the Cavalry Clubs; the Great Western, London and Southwestern, and South-Eastern and Chatham Railways. A charge was made for their services at the customary rate for police employed beyond the district. This rate is fixed for each rank at a sum which includes pay, clothing, allowances, and every other item in the cost of a police officer. The total sum was £1,202 11s. 9d.

DR. COOPER

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that many of the suburbs of London were denuded of police during this meeting?

MR. GLADSTONE

No, Sir, I am not at all aware of that.

MR. MOONEY (Newry)

Who is the-Master of the Buekhounds who, according to a recent Answer by the right hon Gentleman, defrays a portion of the cost.

[No Answer was returned.]

MR. COOPER

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Metropolitan Police are used to maintain order at the Lingfield or Gatwick race meetings, or at any other race meetings outside the Metropolitan Police area; and whether he will consider the advisabilty of allowing the Metropolitan Police being used outside their district.

MR. GLADSTONE

It has been usual for many years for the Metropolitan Police to maintain order at certain race meetings outside the Metropolitan Police area. Those meetings are Aseot, Goodwood, Windsor, and Sandown. Metropolitan Police are not sent for this purpose to Lingfield or Gatwick. A considerable proportion of the spectators at these meetings come from the Metropolitan Police district, and, moreover, the county police cannot always provide the number of men required.

MR. COOPER

asked whether it was the duty of the metropolitan ratepayers to find police to keep order in other counties.