13. Mr. HALL-CALNEasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the resignation of more than 120 members of the J division of the Metropolitan special constabulary as a protest against what they regard as an injustice done to a chief inspector by the disciplinary board; and if he can state what were the reasons for demanding the resignation of this officer?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the number of resignations received to date in connection with this matter is 53 and that the strength of J division of the Metro- 504 politan Special Constabulary Reserve is now 627. The Chief Inspector was required to resign in consequence of the findings of a discipline board that he had deliberately failed to comply with the instructions of his superior officer and that he had not observed the spirit of an undertaking given by him to a previous discipline board in June, 1932. The board which considered the case consisted of a county court judge, a leading member of the Bar and an experienced solicitor. Their recommendation was approved by the Commandant-in-Chief and confirmed by the Commissioner of Police. The case received most careful consideration, and the resignations which followed would appear to have arisen out of a misapprehension of the facts.