§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the ex-officer by whom serious allegations concerning certain abuses in Metropolitan police administration were made at the Trafalgar Square meetings had fifteen years of faithful service and unblemished record; and that, after full inquiry, he was offered reinstatement as a station sergeant by his predecessor in office; and, in view of the fact that subsequent indiscretions, committed since he left the force in order to draw attention to his case, have been referred to as a reason for ignoring specific allegations and refusing an inquiry, does he see his way to grant an inquiry, and, if there are records at Scotland Yard which prove these allegations to be false, will he say why their production is refused?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe facts are known to hon. Members as the Chief Commissioner's judgment in the case was laid on the Table of the House. Mr. Syme was punished for grave misconduct in traducing his superiors by reduction in rank, a very lenient punishment. He declined to abide by the decision of the disciplinary authority, and ultimately had to be dismissed for persistent insubordination. With the concurrence of the Chief Commissioner, my predecessor offered to condone the latter offence, and to reinstate him in the rank to which he had been properly degraded for his misconduct. He has since 1499W his dismissal lost no opportunity of making further false and malicious charges against the superior officers of the force, and I have now under consideration what further action should be taken against him.