§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the superintendents of the Dublin Metropolitan Police are compelled to make a.monthly Return to the Chief Commissioner of the number of cases brought by the patrol and section sergeants under 970 their control; whether the Return contains a column setting forth the number of cases made by the same men during the corresponding month of the preceding year; and, if so, will he state what is the object of this comparison.
MR. BRYCEI am informed that the facts are substantially as stated in the first two branches of this Question. The Return shows the number of licensed promises visited, and the number of irregularities observed and of prosecutions pending. The comparison effected with the corresponding period of the previous year relates to cases made in the same division, and not necessarily by the same men. The return is considered necessary in order that the performance of this important duty may come periodically under review. The practice of furnishing the return is of many years standing.