§ 4. Mr. SHORTasked the Home Secretary whether he has under review the constitution and procedure of the Metropolitan Police Disciplinary Board, especially with reference to the submission of evidence, the attendances of witnesses, the recording of proceedings, and the representation of the accused?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSYes, Sir. Certain points of procedure are at present under review. I do not contemplate any change in the constitution of the Board.
§ Mr. SHORTCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether he proposes to afford the accused an opportunity of being legally represented?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have said that certain points of procedure are at 2156 present under review and subject to a report by the new Commissioner, and until that is supplied I cannot answer the question.
§ Mr. SHORTCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in connection with the constitution of the Board, he proposes to see that some independent person sits upon it to adjudicate other than a member of the Police Force?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAt present I do not contemplate any change. It is very difficult indeed. These disciplinary cases are often quite trivial, and to import an outsider would complicate the proceedings. The hon. Member will remember that in cases of dismissal there is, by the Act which we passed 18 months ago, an appeal to myself.
§ Mr. HAYESWill the right hon. Gentleman, in reviewing the procedure, bear in mind the advisability of the police officer being represented by a friend, and that full freedom for the friend should be given—that he should not necessarily be in uniform and therefore in the position of being restricted in this matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI will convey that point to the Commissioner and discuss it with him.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe Board is constituted of an Assistant Commissioner or a Deputy-Assistant Commissioner, who is President of the Board, with a chief constable and a superintendent who must not be the chief constable of the district or the superintendent of the division to which the defaulter belongs.
§ Mr. SHORTDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that, there is grave danger of the Board being biased if every member of the Board is drawn entirely from the ranks?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI really think not. The hon. Member is making rather a serious accusation against men who have served through the ranks themselves. I think that the superintendents and the chief constable quite know the point of view of the constables in this matter.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSWhich recent case?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThat happened several years ago.
§ Mr. HAYESDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that in order to facilitate the record of these proceedings in the future shorthand writers should be present for the purpose of recording the various questions and answers?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAgain, I think, the hon. Gentleman must leave the discretion to the Commissioner. If shorthand writers were employed to report and transcribe every small case that came before the Disciplinary Board, the records would he increased quite unnecessarily.
§ Mr. HAYESIn view of the fact that it is done in individual cases before they reach the board, would it not be quite simple to do it there?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI do not think that it is necessary. If the hon. Member or any other hon. Member—I have an open mind—can convince me that it is really necessary, I will consider it.