§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that three constables of the Greenwich Division of the Metropolitan Police (435 Davies, 732 McShea, and 748 Shave), in addition to being severely reprimanded and cautioned, have been punished by a reduction of 6s. per week in pay, and will according to regulations only be entitled to readvancements of 1s. per week per year, involving in two cases a total financial loss of £54 12s., and in the third case £63 10s.; whether the offence for which they have been so severely punished was that of committing a breach of discipline by endeavouring to induce members of the force to join an association; and whether he will inquire into the matter with a view to the punishment being rescinded?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs I informed the hon. Member for Barrow on Thursday last, some constables of the R Division of the Metropolitan Police having complained to their officers that they were being pressed against their will by certain senior members of the force to join secretly an unauthorised association styling itself the National Union of Police and Prison Officers, an inquiry was held. Conclusive evidence established the fact that the constables named in my hon. Friend's question had been guilty of a very serious broach of discipline by endeavouring to induce the younger constables to act in contravention of Standing Orders on the subject, and they were reduced in pay 6s. a week, to regain advancement at the rate of 1s. per week a year. The misconduct of these constables was deliberate, for repeated admonitions on this subject had been given. The three constables had by their misconduct rendered themselves liable to dismissal. A lesser punishment was inflicted after being very carefully considered. I do not think the ease is one for interference by me.
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§ Mr. BOWERMANalso asked the Home Secretary if he will consider the desirability of cancelling Section 5, paragraph 62, of the General Orders governing the Metropolitan Police, which provides that no societies are to be formed amongst the police unless the sanction of the Commissioner has been previously obtained, or, alternatively, will he endeavour to ensure that the sanction of the Commissioner is not unreasonably withheld from members of the force who may desire to join an association?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer is in the negative. Unless the General Orders referred to were in existence associations might be formed incompatible with the regulation of official conduct which must in the public interest be maintained in any disciplined force. I have no reason to think that the sanction of the Commissioner, to which my hon. Friend refers, has ever been unreasonably withheld.
§ Mr. SAMUEL SAMUELasked the Home Secretary why Police-constable Parrett, who has served ten years in the V Division of the Metropolitan Police, was not given permission last November when he wanted to join the Military Mounted Police and was informed that he could join the Army if he resigned from the police; will ex-Police-constable Parrett, who has now joined the Military Police, be deprived of his ten years' service which would count for pension; is Mrs. Parrett receiving allowance from the police; and will he explain why Police-constable Parrett was so treated, seeing that other police officers are accorded compensation and have not been obliged to resign?
§ Mr. McKENNAUnder the Police Constables (Naval and Military Service) Act, 1914, a police authority, if satisfied after consultation with the Admiralty or the Army Council that a constable who is not a Reservist possesses qualifications not possessed by ordinary recruits for rendering special service in the Army or Navy, may extend to such a constable the full benefits of the Police Reservists Act. Police-constable Parrett applied last November to join the Military Mounted Police. His application was submitted to the Army Council and rejected, as the constable was held to possess no qualifications for rendering special service. He was thereupon told that he might, if he wished, resign for Army service, but care1170W was taken to make clear to him that if he did so he would not come within the Act and neither he nor his wife would have any claim on the Police Fund. He decided not to resign; but some weeks afterwards reported to his superior officers that he had actually enlisted in the Military Foot Police, and he asked leave to resign forthwith, and to receive back the superannuation deductions contributed by him during his police service. These requests were complied with, and Mrs. Parrett cannot now receive the special allowance from police funds, though she no doubt receives the ordinary Army separation allowance. No applications from Metropolitan police officers considered by the Naval or Military authorities to possess special qualifications have been refused; and I may say that 559 men have been released for service with the Colours under the Act quoted.