HC Deb 10 September 1914 vol 66 cc679-81

(1) If with the consent of the chief officer of police of the force to which he belongs a constable who has been a petty officer or non-commissioned officer reenters the Navy or re-enlists in the Regular Forces for the purposes of the present War, the Police Reservists (Allowances) Act, 1914, as amended by this Act, Sub-section (5) of Section four of the Police Act, 1890, and Section four of the Police (Superannuation) Act, 1906, shall, subject to the necessary adaptations, apply to him in like manner as they apply to a constable who, being a man belonging to the Naval Reserves or the Army Reserves, has been called out for service during war or any emergency or, as the case may be, on permanent service.

(2) A police authority may, if they think fit, by order extend the privileges conferred by this Section to any constable who, for the purposes of the present War, enters or enlists in any of His Majesty's naval or military forces, if the police authority are satisfied, after consultation with the Admiralty or Army Council, that the constable possesses qualifications not possessed by ordinary recruits for rendering special service in the Navy or Army, and thereupon this Section, subject to the necessary adaptations, shall apply to the constable.

Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITH

I beg to move, in Sub-section (1), after the word "re-enters" ["re-enters the Navy or re-enlists"], to insert the words "or has reentered."

The object of this and the next two Amendments is to put those who have already enlisted upon the same terms and the same advantages as those who enlist after the passing of this Bill. Those who are patriotic enough to enlist before the passing of the Bill ought, at any rate, to have the same advantages as those who join after the passing of the Bill.

Question put, and agreed to.

Further Amendments made: After the word "re-enlists" ["re-enters the Navy or re-enlists"] insert the words "or has re-enlisted."—[Mr. Ellis Griffith.]

In Sub-section (2), after the word "enlist" ["enters or enlists"], insert the words "or has enlisted."

Question, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.

Bill reported.

As amended, considered.

Mr. CAVE

I beg to move, in Clause 2, Sub-section (2), to leave out the words "if the police authority are satisfied, after consultation with the Admiralty or Army Council, that the constable possesses qualifications not possessed by ordinary recruits for rendering special service in the Navy or Army."

I think these words ought to come out, otherwise the Bill is a deterrent and prevents constables from enlisting.

Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITH

(indistictly heard): The object of the Bill is to encourage police officers to enlist. A Bill was passed about a week ago dealing with this subject which did not go far enough in the matter of gratuitous allowances and pensions. This measure extends the Bill of last week, first of all from Reservists to non-Reservists, and it extends it to those who have never been in the Army at all, subject to Sub-section (2). The object of the Amendment is to give the police authority no voice in the matter at all.

Mr. GAVE

Their consent must be obtained under the first line of the Clause.

Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITH

The hon. and learned Gentleman does not want any consultation with the Admiralty or Army Council. Our view is that although in a certain sense the police force makes an admirable recruiting ground, if a man has never served in the Army or Navy he should have some special aptitude or special qualification. We could not have the police force denuded entirely. It would be a very difficult thing to introduce practically a new police force.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Resolved, "That the Bill be now read the third time."

Bill read the third time, and passed.