§ 69. Mr. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, and on whose recommendation. District Commissioners in the Gold Coast Colony must now withdraw, should they believe that a breach of the peace is about to take place, and hand over to the local police, even if such police are only under the control of a native policeman of non-commissioned rank; and what steps he proposes to take to give adequate protection for the valuable plant and 37W machinery of the mines and other industrial installations operating on the Gold Coast for the benefit of the whole sterling area.
§ Mr. HopkinsonThere has been no fundamental change of policy as the police have always been responsible for public order and for dealing with breaches of the peace. The recent Gold Coast Government statement, which my hon. Friend presumably has in mind, was intended to emphasise the undesirability of District Commissioners becoming involved in police action.
Their duty to do everything in their power to prevent a breach of the peace remains unaffected. In the mining and industrial areas the services of senior police officers are always available.