§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Home Secretary whether any steps will be taken to reassure the lower ranks of the Metropolitan police against the fear of consequences for telling the truth, expressed in Police Constable Greave's letter to Mr. Abinger, in the trial of Stinie Morrison, and alleged to have been evidenced by witnesses in the inquiry into the case of Inspector Syme, where it involved superiors in rank, and acknowledged in the judgment of the Disciplinary Board to be existent?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs I have already stated, I propose to make a special inquiry into the statements made by Constable Greave; but I have no ground for thinking that members of the Metropolitan Police Force generally stand in fear of giving truthful evidence. Certainly nothing has been said by the Discipline Board in ex-Inspector Syme's case to support such a suggestion, and it would, I am sure, be repudiated by the men. I hesitate to believe that the hon. Member would have given publicity to such serious statements without having received substantial primâ facie evidence to justify him. If he has such evidence, it is his duty to place it at the disposal of the Minister responsible.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked if, having regard to the revised general order that there is no appeal from the decision of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and to the explanation that such general order merely defines the position and procedure in respect of disciplinary appeals which have existed without change since the 612 creation of the force, the right hon. Gentleman will state whether the police now have in fact a right to appeal to-the Home Secretary; whether such appeals have been made while he and his predecessor have been in office; if in any such cases the decision of the Commissioner in matters of discipline has been revised on appeal; whether, having regard to the practical difficulties involved in an appeal to a Minister, he will consider the establishment of an independent board of appeal, while reserving his power of revision, so as to give the members of the force a sense of security against the possibility of being made the victims of official tyranny and avoid any occasion for public uncertainty that justice is being done; or, in the alternative, will he institute an inquiry as to whether the establishment of such a board is desirable?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere is no right of appeal by an officer of the force from the decision of the Commissioner who is vested by statute with full disciplinary powers. So long as the Commissioner is responsible for the efficiency and good conduct of the police, which have at no time been higher than at present, he must be entrusted with full disciplinary power and must, in his discretion, be able to advance in rank or reduce in rank for inefficiency or misconduct, or inflict other suitable punishment. His powers are no greater than those of any private employer. Members of the Force have no right of appeal from the commissioner, but in the case of ex-Inspector Syme the Commissioner himself submitted to my predecessor an appeal by the officer. Lord Gladstone, after full consideration, decided that he could not intervene. No other appeal has been made to me or my predecessor. I have requested the Commissioner to furnish me with statistics and particulars of the working of the various disciplinary courts, which' will enable me to decide whether there should be modification of the system that has worked for so many years with such satisfactory results as regards the efficiency, morale, and conduct of the Force.