Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary for Scotland whether the secretary of a constable's branch board, with the consent of the chairman, has the right, under the Police Regulations, to report any matter involving the well-being of the police force to the Joint Central Board?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThere is no specific provision on this matter, but the secretary of a branch board is at liberty to communicate with the Joint Central Committee provided that if he purports to convey a representation of the branch board he has their authority for so doing.
Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that in Scotland the watching and lighting committee in police burghs have no power to revise a decision of the chief constable in matters of discipline, but the chief constable has full power; and whether he will introduce legislation this year to give watching and lighting committees in Scotland the same powers as similar committees in England?
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§ Sir J. GILMOURThere is no statutory watching and lighting committee in Scottish burghs. Disciplinary powers are vested solely in the chief constable, and I am not satisfied that it would be expedient to give effect to the suggestion of the hon. Member.
Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that, according to Police Regulations, local authorities have to provide stationery and other requisites for carrying on the work of the constables branch board; that Chief Constable Roy, Kilmarnock, threatened to charge a constable with theft for using police stationery for branch board business and asked him to resign from the police force in his own interest, and, saying he could no longer be trusted with the internal affairs of the police office, immediately put him out of the office on street duty, and that this matter was reported to the Joint Central Board; whether he has had this case submitted to him; and whether he can state what action he has taken or intends to take?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am not aware of any provision in the Police (Scotland) Regulations regarding the provision of stationery, etc., for the use of the branch boards of the Scottish Police Federation, but I understand that the Kilmarnock Police Authority have always made suitable provision under this head. I am informed that the chief constable has at no time threatened to charge a constable with theft for using police stationery for branch board business nor asked the constable in question to resign from the force in his own interests, nor said that he could no longer be trusted with the internal affairs of the police office. The constable referred to was not regularly employed on office duty, but was doing temporary duty in the office for another constable when the question as to using official police stationery for branch board work arose. The case was brought to my notice by the Joint Central Committee, and I have received a report on the incident, on con side ration of which I see no reason to intervene.