§ 57. Mr. GILBERTasked the Home Secretary whether the Criminal Investigation Department at Scotland Yard is maintained solely as part of the Metropolitan Police Force; whether, in the event of serious crimes in any part of the country, officers in this Department are at the disposal of county and borough police forces, or on what conditions are officers of the criminal investigation force sent away from London; is the whole cost of this Department borne on the Metropolitan Police Fund; and are any credits given to that fund for any officers or services of this Department given outside the London area?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe Criminal Investigation Department at New Scotland Yard is a part of the Metropolitan Police Force and the cost of its maintenance is defrayed from the Metropolitan Police Fund. Chief officers of county and borough police have been informed that the services of Metropolitan detective officers are at their disposal to assist in the investigation of specially obscure or serious crimes, and the rule is to make no charge in such cases, the expenses involved in their employment on these 2365 special duties outside the Metropolis being one of the items in respect of which an annual grant from voted moneys of £100,000 for Imperial and national services is made to the Police Fund.