§ 78. Mr. CROOKSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that since the inauguration in 1915 of the force of special constables the duties of the men have been increased, owing to a reduction in the number of regular police; that in some weeks a man will lose three nights' rest and still have to attend to his work during the day; that although the time on duty is only four hours, as the men have to parade half an hour before, and it is usually half an hour after finishing duty that the men are released, the time really extend beyond the four hours, and considerably so where a man resides some distance away; and whether he will consider the possibility of ameliorating these conditions?
§ Mr. BRACEIt is true that the nature of the duties to be performed by the special constables has changed since the 1460 force was constituted in 1914, and they have become more varied and responsible; but members of the force are, as a rule, not required to perform more than one turn of duty of four hours every three days. In those cases where it has been necessary to exceed the limit of four hours the duties have been performed, so far as the Commissioner is aware, with willingness and zeal. Every effort is made, with due regard to the varying conditions of different localities, to prevent any waste of time and to make the duty as little burdensome as possible.