§ Lieut.-Colonel Price-Whiteasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, why, on the recent selection of a short list of candidates for appointment as chief constable of Caernarvonshire by the local standing joint police committee, he directed the removal from the list of the name of the present deputy chief constable; and, in view of the good record of this officer during 25 years' service and the local misapprehension as to the cause for the removal of his name from the short list, if he will give the reason for the removal of this officer's name.
§ Mr. EdeThe preparation of a short list of candidates for appointment to the post of chief constable is a matter for the police authority. I have no power to give directions to a police authority in this matter, but it is the normal, and sensible, practice for the police authority to consult the Home Office in advance, on an informal and confidential basis. As regards the discussions which took place between the Department and the Standing Joint Committee of Caernarvonshire, my Department did not direct the removal of any name from the short list but pointed out, as is usual in the case of a comparatively small force, the undesirability of appointing as chief officer a man who had no experience in any other police force. This objection is one of principle and, as the Standing Joint Committee were informed, implies no reflection on the competence of the Deputy Chief Constable.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Price-Whiteasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is now the policy of his Department in regard to approving for appointment as chief constable of a county or county borough police force a 75W officer serving in that force who has not served outside that force; if he will make his policy public, by way of police regulation or otherwise, so that police officers who aspire to eventual promotion to chief constable may be guided by it and obtain the necessary qualifying experience; and if he will ensure that prospective police recruits are conversant with prospects and conditions for promotion to higher ranks within local police forces.
§ Mr. EdeMy policy, like that of my predecessors, is to secure the appointment of efficient chief constables. For this purpose I have to take into account, among other things, the previous experience of the selected candidate and the characteristics of the police force concerned; in view, however, of the widely differing considerations which apply,to police forces varying in establishment from 22 to 2,500, it would not be practicable or desirable to attempt to secure absolute uniformity of practice. As regards the last part of the Question, prospective recruits are fully informed of the prospects of promotion to the higher ranks of the police service.