26. Mr. Robertsonasked the Home Secretary why middle-aged War Reserve policemen, who have given excellent service since the outbreak of war, are being transferred to the Armed Forces and industry, in accordance with an Order dated 10th September, 1943, when it would be in the national interest if younger policemen were called up, leaving these older men to take their places.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI think my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension as to the scope of the Metropolitan Police Order to which he refers. It deals with only a part of the arrangements for the release of men to the Armed Forces and to industry, to which I referred in reply to his Question on 2nd December. Under those arrangements the Commissioner of Police has already taken steps to make available a large number of the younger members of his Force, both regulars and War Reserve constables. The responsibilities of the police are such that it is 1672 impossible to spare all the young and active men, and it was therefore decided that to make up the total figure of men to be released some men over military age must be included.