§ 26. Mr. COTTONasked who are the present holders of the office of Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police; how many, respectively, are civilians, military men, and promoted police officers; and what are the qualifications, from the point of view of police administration, of General Horwood, who has been appointed to succeed Sir Frederick Wodehouse?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe Assistant Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police are:
1593 The three last-mentioned are civilians. Brigadier-General Horwood was employed for four years as chief constable of the North-Eastern Railway, which employment he left on mobilisation for the present War, and has been for three years Provost-Marshal on General Headquarters in France. He has also had a considerable experience in an administrative capacity in a Government Department.
- Major Sir Frederick Wodehouse, who is retiring, and will be succeeded on the 1st November by Brigadier-General W. Horwood,
- Mr. Basil Thomson,
- Mr. F. L. D. Elliott, and
- Mr. F. T. Bigham.
Mr. CHANCELLORWill the Government consider the policy of in future appointing civilian officers to this civilian force?
§ Sir G. CAVEThere have been for some time one soldier and three civilians in those positions.
§ Sir J. D. REESHas not General Horwood secured a reputation as an exceptionally able and energetic officer?
§ Sir G. CAVEI believe that to be so.
§ General McCALMONTDoes not the rank and file consist largely of ex-soldiers, and is there any reason why the officers should not consist largely of soldiers?
§ Sir G. CAVEThat will be even more so after the present War.