§ 62. Brigadier-General Spearsasked the Home Secretary whether, for the duration of the war, he will take powers to modify the present arrangements whereby officers of the special branch cannot carry on their inquiries personally outside the Metropolitan area and certain other specified places, such as ports, etc.?
§ Sir J. AndersonMy hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension. If the Special Branch of the Metropolitan Police wish to pursue inquiries outside their own district, they can either ask the local police to make inquiries on their behalf or send a Metropolitan Police officer to the place where the inquiry is to be made. In the latter case the Chief Constable concerned is always informed and the inquiries are usually made in conjunction with the local police. No difficulty is experienced in practice.