POLICE (WEEKLY HOLIDAY). (Hansard, 10 March 1908)

§ MR. REMNANT (Finsbury, Holborn)

asked permission to introduce a Bill which he was sure would command the sympathy of every Member of the House, viz., one which sought to give one day's rest in seven to members of the police force of this country. He did not propose to dilate on the excellence of that force which was admitted and appreciated by everybody who lived in this country as well as by a great many who lived out of it. But he felt that he must call attention to the extraordinary diversity of the duties of the police, a diversity so great that it became almost bewildering. The more one became acquainted with the work of the constabulary the more one recognised the absolute necessity that great strength of character should be possessed by every member of that force, especially when they considered the forbearance necessary to be shown in dealing with various sections of the community, and that the police officer had himself in his own person to give an example of order, sobriety, integrity, and propriety of conduct to the rest of the country. Might he remind the House of the position to-day with reference to the rest given to members of the Metropolitan Police Force, with which he was more closely connected. When a man joined that force he became entitled to one Sunday out of every four, and as a sort of set-off to that he was granted thirteen weekdays in the course of the year. He had to work full time on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday, and Bank Holidays. He was allowed ten days leave during the year. He was allowed no extra pay for overtime. He was in a 1329 much, worse position than the ordinary working-man, who in addition to his Sunday's rest enjoyed his Saturday half-holiday, and had in fact to give up the equivalent of eight weeks of six working days in the course of a year. Surely those facts ought to be sufficient to justify the demand which was being made for this small boon to the members of a very deserving force. They had only to recollect the very exacting duties which they were called upon to perform, and which they performed in a fashion whose excellence was admitted on all sides, and the demand became almost unanswerable. There was no body of men in whom it was more important that they should find a very high standard of physical and moral strength. New York had got the one day's rest in seven. In France, members of the force had one day off in ten, and they were shortly to get one day in seven. Why was it that we lagged behind those two authorities, who, at all events, amongst other had learned to recognise that the health and strength of their police constituted a very valuable civic asset? His hon. and learned friend the Member for Reading, if he were present, would be able to support him when he referred to the borough which he represented. At Reading where they had put this scheme into practice, it had worked smoothly, and with admirable results, and had set the rest of the country an example which it might well follow. What was it that stood in the way of this great reform? Was it the same cause that stopped so many other urgent and necessary reforms? Money? He was afraid it was, but surely in a matter like this, demanding but a small sum of money compared with its great results, it behoved them to take the question firmly and courageously in hand to see whether they could not meet the expense. The Home Secretary in answer to two or three Questions he had addressed to him in the House, had named a sum of £148,500 as the likely expenditure in regard to this one day's rest in seven to members of the Metropolitan Police Force. In his opinion, he did not think the expense would be £50,000, and he was supported in his conviction by authorities outside the House. But let them take 1330 the figures of the Home Secretary; let them put it at £150,000 excluding the superannuation allowance. The Home Secretary, in answer to another Question of his, had stated that the increased rate produced by the last assessment amounted to close on £33,000. It was admitted that in the hands of the Commissioners of Police there was a surplus balance from the rates collected in the past of £750,000. If that sum were allowed to be used in granting this great boon it would very materially reduce the expense which was estimated by the Home Department. No allowance was made in the estimate of the right hon. Gentleman for the reduction which was likely to be caused in the sick list if this boon was given. Allowances might properly be made ii other directions to further reduce the Government's estimate, and therefore they must take it that the official estimate was one that would and could be considerably reduced. When Mr. Ritchie was Secretary for the Home Department, he gave the extra 1s. 6d. allowance to the police force per week, plus 1s. 6d. extra lodging money, on the official estimate of £90,000 to £100,000, but according to the statement issued by the Government quite recently, the cost of this change did not exceed £50,000. They had a splendid example in Reading, where the change had led to a reduction of no less than 40 per cent, in the sick list; the men were contented, and appreciated the boon, and remained longer in the service than before. He hoped hon. Members would not regard this in any Party sense, but join in helping forward this great movement to give the police force what they so richly deserved, viz., a small relaxation from the hardening influences of their occupation, an occupation which must unhappily bring them more in touch with the darker than the brighter side of life. This gift of one day's rest in seven, he was sure the country would feel, was worth the small cost which it might entail. He begged to move.