§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA AND BURMA (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)My Lords, I need not detain the House for more than a very few minutes in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, the purpose of which is to extend the rights of appeal granted to policemen under the Police (Appeals) Act, 1927. Your Lordships may recall that that Act gave a right of appeal in all cases where the award of the disciplinary authority against a policeman was that he should be dismissed or required to resign. By this Bill it is intended to extend the right of appeal to cases where the award is reduction in rank or reduction in pay. In England and Wales, the disciplinary authority for city and borough forces is the Watch Committee, and in county forces the Chief Constable. It is intended, under this brief measure, that an appeal 6 may be lodged with the Secretary of State against both the decision of the disciplinary authority and the punishment inflicted by them. But in order to assist the Secretary of State in his consideration of any appeal, he can appoint a tribunal of inquiry before whom the appellant may be legally represented if the circumstances warrant such a course.
The extension as outlined in the Bill is no new proposal. It was urged as far back as 1927, and it has again been brought into prominence by the amalgamation of certain police forces in the country which has resulted from, and been made necessary by, war-time conditions. The measure is one which is generally welcomed by those whom it will closely affect. If your Lordships give a Second Reading to this Bill and pass it through its subsequent stages, every regular member of the police force throughout the country will be entitled to appeal to the Secretary of State in all cases except those of the minor penalties of fine and reprimand. I have probably said sufficient to show your Lordships the desirability of this measure, and I trust that you will accord it a Second Reading. I beg to move that the Bill be read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Earl of Munster.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.