HC Deb 23 September 1948 vol 456 cc1076-7
37. Sir I. Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were recruited between the passing of the Police Act, 1919, and the appointed day in August, 1921; of these, how many are still serving, and how many retired at the end of 25 years' service; what pension did these latter receive; for what term these men were recruited; and under what statutory authority.

Mr. Ede

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the police officers recruited between 1st July, 1919, and 28th August, 1921. During this period 6,043 police officers joined the Metropolitan police force; of these, 738 are still serving, and 932 retired with a pension of half pay, after completing 25 years' service but before completing 26 years No figures are available for other police forces. The conditions under which the men served were governed by the Police Regulations and the police pensions enactments in force from time to time, and these did not prescribe any definite term of service.

Sir I. Fraser

Is it not a fact that these particular police officers were recruited under Statutes prior to 1919 because the appointed day had not arrived and might they not, therefore, have thought with justice that they were subject to the older rules which would have given them a three-quarters pension at the end of 25 years' service and not a half pension?

Mr. Ede

This subject has been brought to my notice by the Police Federation on several occasions since I have been in office. These men were enlisted and it was stated, when they were enlisted, that the final terms had not been arranged. What happened was that while the Police Act of 1921 was going through this House an Amendment was made in it which, in fact, affected these men and which has given them some sense of grievance ever since. I have tried my very utmost to find a way to remedy it, but I have been unable to find one.

Sir I. Fraser

Were they not, in fact, recruited while the Amendment was going through this House and, therefore, under the previous Statutes?

Mr. Ede

They were warned in the document under which they were recruited that in this respect their terms had not been settled.