HC Deb 29 April 1926 vol 194 cc2183-5
14. Sir JAMES REMNANT

asked the Home Secretary whether he considers that the the previous police experience required by the Police Regulations before a candidate is eligible for appointment as a chief officer of police is met by a course of tuition under a chief constable; and, if not, whether he proposes to withhold his consent to the appointment of Captain A. F. Horden as chief constable of the East Riding of Yorkshire?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I have decided to approve the appointment. Captain Horden had other qualifications than those mentioned.

Sir J. REMNANT

Can the right hon. Gentleman state one qualification which this young serving officer, serving up to the date of his appointment, had over those who had already applied?

Mr. RHYS DAVIES

In view of the dissatisfaction which continuously arises in making these appointments, does the right hon. Gentleman not think the time has arrived to lay down some specific police experience as a qualification?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I must apologise to the House if I make rather a long answer, but the position is this: Under the Regulations I am bound to appoint someone connected with the police force, unless there is some other candidate who has special and exceptional qualifications and is of less than 40 years of age—I am paraphrasing the rule—who would, in my view, make a suitable Chief Constable. About two months ago, as the House knows, I refused to sanction the appointment of an outside Army officer as Chief Constable, on the ground that he had no exceptional qualifications—

Sir J. REMNANT

And of age.

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

—and of age. In this case the appointing authority—I am only the confirming authority— appointed this Army officer, who had the most exceptional qualifications. He served in a magisterial and police capacity in Nigeria; he served in connection with the police force in Ireland; he served during the War in the Intelligence Department of the War Office here, in close touch with police matters, and I could not possibly say he had not really many good qualifications indeed to make a chief constable. In those circumstances, my sole desire being to get the best man, I approved the appointment.

15. Sir J. REMNANT

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that several well-qualified candidates from the police service were prepared to accept the position of chief constable of the East Riding of Yorkshire; and, if so, whether he considers the qualifications of Captain A. F. Horden meets the requirements of the police regulations governing the appointment of chief constables, which state that no person without previous experience shall be appointed to any such post unless he possesses some exceptional qualification or experience which specially fits him for the post, or there is no candidate from the police service who is considered sufficiently well qualified?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.