§ 12. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, as the result of his further inquiries, it has been decided to take any action arising out of the sale at public meetings of a pamphlet by ex-Inspector Syme, in which the gravest charges are made against the heads of the Metropolitan Police Force and the Home Secretary; and if the Scotland Yard authorities have issued permits to ex-Inspector Syme to hold meetings at which it was known these charges would be made?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe reply to the first question is in the negative. Permits to hold meetings are not issued; written notice of the meeting has to be sent to the Scotland Yard authorities, whose action is confined to seeing that the Regulations made by the Commissioner of Works are complied with, and that order is preserved at such meetings.
§ Mr. SNOWDENAre we to infer from that reply that this man is going on with these meetings?
§ Mr. McKENNAWell, Sir, I understand that the Director of Public Prosecutions has been consulted upon the point, and the conclusion to which the authorities have come is that it would not be possible to bring any action?
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs the Home Secretary aware that the obvious construction is that these charges are true, and that the Home Office dare not prosecute?
§ Mr. McKENNAMy hon. Friend must understand that inquiries have been held more than once, and there has been a case in the Courts in which Inspector Syme's charges have been proved to be untrue.
§ 13. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will say how many resignations have taken place from the Metropolitan Police Force since the beginning of 1912; what was the strength of the constable force in December, 1912; how many constables had less than eight years' service; and how many less than four?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe effective strength of constables on the 31st December, 1912, was 17,036. Of these, 8,973 had less than eight, and 5,128 less than four years' service. Since the 1st January, 1912, the resignations have been:—
On pension or gratuity: Four superintendents, 91 inspectors, 139 sergeants, 628 constables.
Voluntarily, without being entitled to pension or gratuity: One inspector, 9 sergeants, 291 constables. In addition, 23 police-constables with less than three years' service resigned as being unfit.