§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of of the Commissioners Regulations in General Orders was infringed by ex-Inspector Syme when he was insubordinate?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe insubordination consisted in a refusal to obey the lawful orders of those in authority over him. One1120W of the conditions of service which Syme accepted when he joined the Metropolitan Police Force was "that he should obey all lawful orders from the persons in authority over him." Syme expressly refused to obey the Commissioner's decision in a matter of discipline, and persisted in this refusal, and there was no course open but to dismiss him.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Home Secretary if he is yet in a position to state the result of his consideration whether further action should be taken against ex-Inspector Syme for making charges which are alleged to be false; and, in view of such suggested action, will he now allow hon. Members to acquaint themselves with the evidence of the witnesses before the disciplinary board, which Mr. Syme declares will substantiate his charges, and with the judgment of the board, or is the information at the disposal of the House to be restricted to the statement already laid before the House without reference to the evidence on which it is based; and, if so, why is this course adopted?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs Syme has not published in writing the charges against the Commissioner of Police which he made in Trafalgar Square, I am advised that he cannot be prosecuted. As regards the original case against Syme, my two predecessors in office and I satisfied ourselves that the decision was amply justified by the evidence, and I am not prepared to reopen this matter.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the members of the executive committee of the St. George's, Hanover Square, Liberal Association, at their meeting on 3rd December, 1912, expressing the opinion that an official inquiry into recent allegations concerning the police service should at once be instituted, and testifying to the character of the ex-officer by whom the allegations were made; and will he reconsider the question of referring the whole matter, as in the Greaves' case, to a competent and disinterested person for a special inquiry and report?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have seen the resolution referred to. On three recent occasions—twice in 1910 and again in 1911—Syme has been brought before the Criminal Courts. On the first two occasions he was bound over in a considerable sum, and on the third occasion he was 1121W sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Syme appealed, and the judgment and sentence were confirmed by the Court of Criminal Appeal. I am satisfied that the charges he has made against the Commissioner of Police and the Police Service are unfounded, and that there is no occasion for an inquiry.