Captain BENNasked the Home Secretary what annual charge would be involved in compensation and pensions to women patrols if that force were disbanded?
§ Mr. SHORTTThere will be no such charge.
Captain BENNasked the Home Secretary if he can give any figures for comparable periods showing the number of women prisoners detained on short sentences in Holloway prison before and after the institution of the women patrols?
900W
§ Mr. SHORTTWomen patrols were introduced in December, 1918. The total number of women received into Holloway Prison on conviction for short sentences has been as follows:—
Year ending 31st March. Sentenced to Total. One month and over two weeks. Two weeks and less. 1915–16 2,521 3,889 6,410 1916–17 2,305 2,328 4,633 1917–18 1,716 1,238 2,954 1918–19 1,162 753 1,915 1919–20 1,361 1,096 2,457 1920–21 1,690 1,349 3,039
Captain BENNasked the Home Secretary whether it is customary to send a woman as escort to female prisoners in custody; by whom this work is at present performed and at what cost; and what would be the method and cost involved if the women patrols were abolished?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In the Metropolitan Police the escorts are provided either by the women patrols or by the matrons who are employed specially to attend to female prisoners at police stations. Before the institution of the women patrols the duty was performed by the matrons and will be again performed by them when the women patrols have been disbanded. Owing to the lower rates of allowances paid to the matrons the change will effect a saving, but it is not possible to give any estimate of the amount.
Captain BENNasked the Home Secretary whether he will issue a Report dealing with the work of the women patrols and particularly stating how many persons have been cautioned, and for what reason, by them; and what other duties they have performed during the present year?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe Commissioner of Police will in due course include in his annual report for the current year a statement as to the work of the women patrols.
Captain BENNasked the Home Secretary what is the number of mounted policemen; what is the annual cost of 901W each, including pay and maintenance of horses and equipment; and what is the annual comparable cost of a dismounted man and of a woman patrol?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe present strength of the mounted branch of the Metropolitan Police is 281. The annual cost of a constable, taking the initial rate of pay, and allowing for rent aid, clothing, incidentals, and the value of his pension, is approximately£264; that of a horse, including charges for forage, farriery, saddlery, stabling, veterinary attendance, and depreciation, is, at present prices, about£136 making the total annual cost of a mounted constable£400. The annual cost of a woman patrol, at the initial rate of pay, and allowing for clothing, the value of free quarters, as supplied to the majority, and incidentals, with the same percentage charge for pension as in the case of a constable, is approximately£231.