§ 33. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that when a policeman in the Metropolitan police 784 force owns or is purchasing a house he is not allowed the usual weekly allowance for rent; and if he intends taking action to remove this grievance?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)A constable in the Metropolitan police purchasing or owning the house in which he resides is entitled to rent aid if the rooms he sets aside for his own accommodation in that house would command in the open market a rental of six shillings a week, or upwards.
34. Mr. FREDERICK HALL (Dulwich)asked the Home Secretary if the police authorities refuse to recognise and act upon information given over the telephone in regard to a breach of the law; if so, how long such rule has been in force; whether it obtains generally in this country; and what is the practice in this matter in other countries where the police arrangements have been allowed to reach a higher state of efficiency?
§ Mr. McKENNAThere is no such rule in the district of the Metropolitan police, nor so far as I am aware elsewhere in England. I have no knowledge of the practice in foreign countries. It is obvious that communications made by telephone respecting alleged crime do not stand on the same footing as those made by personal visit, and that the action taken on their receipt must be regulated by the discretion of the police officer concerned.
Mr. F. HALLWill any complaint over the telephone to the police authorities receive the attention it calls for?
§ Mr. McKENNAI can add nothing to my answer, which the hon. Member will see deals with that precise point.