§ MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)To ask the Secretary for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the Proceedings of the Royal Commission on the Metropolitan police, when an ex-police constable named George Deed confessed upon oath that, at the previous sitting of the Commission, he had deliberately perjured himself; whether this witness was severely reprimanded by the Chairman, who told him that he had placed himself in a very serious position indeed, and that it would be the duty of the Commission to consider whether any action ought or ought 308 not to be taken against him; and whether the Police Commissioner, in the interests of the police force, will prosecute this man.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I find on inquiry that the facts are as stated in the Question. The Chairman of the Commission said to Deed, "I have to tell you that you have placed yourself in a very serious position indeed, and it will be the duty of this Commission to consider whether any action ought or not to be taken against you." The matter is at present entirely in the hands of the Royal Commission. If they should recommend that any action should be taken, I need not say it shall receive serious attention from the Government; Deed was dismissed from the Metropolitan police force nearly four years ago.