§ 25. Mr. Pilkingtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider relaxing the rule by which police officers are unable to get married until they have completed four or five years' service?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir Samual Hoare)My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. In the Metropolitan Police Force, although the rule is that a constable may not marry without the consent of the Commissioner of Police until he has completed four years' approved service, a relaxation has recently been introduced providing that consent would now normally be given where the officer has completed two years' service and there is reasonable evidence that marriage is not likely to result in financial embarrassment to him and the application is recommended by his superior officers. In the provincial forces any regulation on this subject is not a matter requiring my consent.
§ Mr. PilkingtonIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is a great deal of discontent on the ground that this relaxation is seldom used both in the Metropolitan Force and in other forces; and does he really think it is to the benefit of the country generally that this principle should be enforced?
§ Sir S. HoareI am not aware of any general discontent. I understand that the relaxation is working very well.
§ Mr. ThorneI take it that the chief of police does not select a man's wife?