62. Mrs. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made for the payment of overtime for Criminal Investigation Department officers whose hours of duty have been extended in connection with the present emergency.
§ 71. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now able to announce his decision regarding overtime payments to detective-constables and detective-sergeants of the 23W Criminal Investigation Department during the present emergency.
§ 72. Mrs. Castleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many provincial police have been drafted into London for the purposes of the railway strike; what hours all police in London have been working during the strike; what arrangements have been made for the payment of overtime in all cases, including the Criminal Investigation Department; and whether he will pay compensation to those members of the police forces who have had to cancel their holiday arrangements, because of strike duty, for any financial loss involved.
§ Major Lloyd-George1,060 police officers from other forces have been assisting the Metropolitan police during the emergency. Apart from certain officers employed on specialised duties, all regular police officers, Metropolitan and others, below the rank of superintendent have been required to perform 12 hours duty a day in the Metropolitan police district. Officers of the rank of superintendent and above have a 24 hour responsibility. Weekly rest days were postponed at the beginning of the emergency, but were restored as far as practicable on 4th June. Uniform sergeants and constables are entitled to receive normal allowances for overtime worked during the emergency.
Representations were made to the Commissioner of Police on Monday of this week on behalf of detective officers below the rank of superintendent, who receive a detective duty allowance in lieu of overtime and are not eligible for normal overtime payments. As soon as these representations were brought to my notice, I approved the grant of a special allowance to these officers in respect of each period of 12 hours' duty performed on any day during the emergency (other than a weekly rest day or a bank holiday for which they were already entitled to compensation). I also approved the grant of a similar allowance to inspectors and chief inspectors of the uniform branch. Deposits and other moneys forfeited unavoidably by officers unable to go on holiday as a result of the cancellation of their annual leave during the emergency will be reimbursed.
I should like to take this opportunity of paying a tribute to the arduous and devoted work done by the Metropolitan 24W police and by the members of provincial police forces who came to London to help them. They played an invaluable part, especially in dealing with the grave traffic problems created by the emergency, and I am sure that the House will wish to join me in expressing our warm appreciation of their services.