HC Deb 15 December 1958 vol 597 cc155-6W
101. Mr. Beswick

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why senior officers of the Metropolitan Police not in uniform, are permitted to check, criticise or give orders to police constables on duty before giving evidence of their authority.

Mr. R. A. Butler

In the Metropolitan Police, if a police constable in these circumstances does not recognise a senior officer who addresses him he would be right in asking him to prove his identity and the senior officer would always do so.