§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH (Maidstone)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total number of the police force enrolled in the British East Africa Protectorate, excluding the additional force of twenty white men ordered to be raised on the 18th March; and what are the numbers respectively of white members, excluding the above-mentioned additional men, and native members of the force.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL,) Manchester, N.W.According to the latest returns the police force of the East Africa Protectorate consists of thirty-five white officers, and about 2,000 native officers and men.
§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGHI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the regulations for the enrolment of natives in the police force of the British East Africa Protectorate; whether untrained and uneducated natives are now serving; whether such natives are the custodians of the public peace, with power to arrest white men and women; whether the Secretary of State is aware that the existing condition of the police force, in regard to the selection of the native members of that force, gives rise to apprehension and dissatisfaction amongst the white population; and whether he will take steps to secure that further and better regulations shall be enforced in that respect, in order to secure due protection of white men and white women in the territory.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe Regulations to which the hon. Member refers will be found in the Police Ordinance of the Protectorate, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The rank and file of the force consists partly of Indians and Swahilis who are employed in the more settled parts, and partly of natives who are chiefly employed at the outlying 761 stations. No doubt they are mostly uneducated, and, when they first join the force, untrained. The powers of the police to arrest persons are in general the same as these entrusted to the police of British India under Sections 54–67 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Complaints as to the constitution of the police force have been received, but they have been of a general character and have not alleged specific misconduct. The Secretary of State considers that the establishment of a small white police force, which had been decided upon before the recent incident at Nairobi, will remove all reasonable grounds for complaint.
§ *MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)Have the Administration in East Africa any power to deport persons found guilty of such conduct as may endanger the peace of the country?
§ MR. CHURCHILLI cannot say precisely what powers of deportation are possessed by the Government of British East Africa.
§ VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGHHave any steps been taken to investigate the complaints already received?
§ MR. CHURCHILLI am not aware whether any special steps have been taken. We are always receiving very full Reports, and during the last three months we have had the advantage of the presence in this country of the Commissioner of that district and have had the opportunity of discussing many matters with him at the Colonial Office.