POLICE COUNTIES AND BOROUGHS BILL. (Hansard, 27 June 1856)

§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGH
said, no one was more anxious than he was for the success of this measure, which he had continued to press upon the attention of successive Governments for the last ten years; but, nevertheless, he entertained 2049 great doubt whether the measure would be efficient for the purpose contemplated, and he thought that next year a supplemental Bill would be necessary. But even this year they might, in his opinion, introduce Amendments which would contribute to its success. For instance, the Bill directed the magistrates assembled on the January quarter sessions to proceed with the creation of a constabulary in counties where none already existed. But what were they to do in the intervening five months? There was no direction to the justices in the meantime to make inquiry and obtain that necessary knowledge which would assist the working of the new police; and he therefore thought it desirable to direct the magistrates at the quarter sessions in October to appoint a chief constable, who might in the time that preceded January make himself thoroughly acquainted with the county, and with the circumstances of his district. A map, too, he thought, would be desirable, and it were well if the magistrates provided the county with one before January. Some steps, too, ought to be taken at once to frame some estimate of the cost, without which the magistrates would scarcely be able to carry out the Act when they assembled in January. It was quite true that the magistrates had power to do these things now if they chose; but he must remind their Lordships that they were dealing with reluctant counties, who had resisted the desire of Parliament to establish a general police. There were twenty counties without any police, and some with only a few. Some directions upon these points it would be well to prepare at once.

§ LORD PANMURE
said, their Lordships must all agree with the observations just made by the noble Earl. He was not sorry the noble Earl had made those remarks, because the very fact of his calling the attention of the House to the subject would be nearly as effectual for the purpose he had in view as any compulsory provision in the Bill. He believed that at the ensuing Sessions—seeing that the Bill was about to become law—the magistrates would set about making preparations without further intimation. He did not mean to say that this was a perfect measure, but he thought it was a great step towards the object they had in view, and it was as much as the Government could, in the unfavourable circumstances which existed, carry through Parliament.

LORD WROTTESLEY
said, it was in 2050 the power of the magistrates to appoint a Committee to inquire into the matter, and to arrange much that might be afterwards carried out under the management of the chief constable.

§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGH
said, there was a point which he wished to state to their Lordships. When they were introducing the rural police into Gloucestershire they found their greatest difficulty in the appointment of the chief constable, in consequence of the disposition to carry everything by canvass and favour—a disposition which pervaded all bodies of every description whatever. He, however, suggested to the Lord Lieutenant of the county that an application should be made to the Inspector General of Constabulary in Ireland to recommend a chief constable for Gloucester. That course was taken, and during the seventeen years that elapsed they had never any reason to repent of that proceeding, for they had at once obtained a most efficient officer. They were not, however, equally fortunate in the importation of sixteen or eighteen of the Irish constabulary, who proved rather rough for the habits of English people, and who were reshipped to Ireland in about eighteen months.