§ 62. Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a local authority can effectively appoint a chief constable of police-without his approval; whether it has been the practice of the Home Office in the past to take an active part in arranging or procuring the transfer of police from one part of the provinces to another in cases of actual or apprehended rioting; and whether that practice is being observed by him?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe approval of the Secretary of State is required by Statute for the appointment of the chief constable of a county, but not for the appointment of the chief officer of police of a borough. The Home Office has always urged on all local police authorities the importance of having standing agreements for mutual aid; and, on the occasion of actual or apprehended disturbances, the Home Office has frequently suggested to the police authority concerned that it should obtain aid from other forces. I have followed this practice.