REPORT. TO THE RIGHT HON. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT · 22nd March, 1928. Sir, I have the honour to submit my report on the Police of the Metropolis for the year ended 31st December, 1927... (I.) ADMINISTRATION OF THE FORCE. Establishment.-The Establishment of the Force on 31st December, 1927, was: Strength. The strength of the Force on 31st December, 1927, The statement above includes 3 Superintendents, 2 Chief Inspectors, 3 Sub-Divisional Inspectors, 11 Inspectors, 10 Station Sergeants, 73 Section Sergeants, 3 Acting Sergeants and 392 Constables (all of the Uniform Branch) performing duties in H.M. Dockyards. Women Police.-The Establishment of Women Police consists of 2 Inspectors, 5 Sergeants and 43 Constables. These are additional to the numbers shown above. Beats Committee. The report of the Committee constituted in 1926 by direction of the Secretary of State to review the police requirements throughout the Metropolitan Police District, received your approval, and, as a result, an augmentation to the Establishment of the Force of 17 Inspectors, 42 Station Sergeants and 62 Constables and a reduction of 22 Section Sergeants, were authorized. This increase of strength, which was accompanied by a general redistribution of duties, has enabled better police supervision to be given to the many new housing estates in the outer districts. But the construction of new roads continues and further readjustments are likely to be needed at an early date. Buildings Committee.-A Committee was constituted in 1927 under the chairmanship of the Assistant Commissioner, "A" Department, to consider what, if any, variations in the divisional and station boundaries could be effected to provide greater efficiency in police methods generally. This Committee will also deal with stations, buildings and fixed point boxes as well as transport, telephones and other means of communication. Dockyards. The policy of replacing Metropolitan Police by Royal Marine Police at Admiralty Dockyards and by War Department Constabulary at Woolwich Arsenal was continued during the year. 75 Officers were withdrawn from Woolwich in January and 25 from Portsmouth, Devonport and Chatham later in the year. A further reduction of 1 Inspector, 2 Sergeants, 16 Constables at Royal Clarence Victualling Yard, Portsmouth, will take place on 31st March, 1928, and others are expected to follow. Traffic Duties.-Many of the Fixed Points have been converted into Traffic Points, and more effective work has been thus obtained. The number of police required for traffic regulation tends to increase and, in the absence of a compensating augmentation of the Force, it has become increasingly difficult to cover fully the duties provided for by the Beats Committee, Police Courts.--Various augmentations to the establishment of warrant officers employed at Police and Petty Sessional Courts have been made during the year in result of increases in the number of summonses, etc. These changes were made only in those cases where the increase of the work seemed to be of a permanent character. Police Station Work.-A noticeable addition to the amount of clerical work falling on Officers in charge of Stations has occurred owing mainly to the increase in the number of motor processes and of statements required in the case of street accidents. In one instance additional assistance has had to be given. Recruiting. At the beginning of the year the number of men under training was small. Candidates were then being taken on at the rate of 20 per week but it was subsequently found necessary, in order to make good the deficiency in the Establishment, to increase the weekly number to 25. Considerable progress in this direction has now been made and it is hoped that the position will shortly become normal. Training School. The work of the Training School has been carried out during the year in an entirely satisfactory manner. A revised syllabus was put into operation on 1st January, 1927. Although this involved a lengthening of the minimum period of the course by one week, the actual time taken to pass out has in fact been slightly reduced on account of a better adjustment of subjects and improved methods of instruction. The average time taken worked out at just under 11 weeks. Several Superintendents in their annual reports speak very well of the recruits drafted to their Divisions. Discipline.-Discipline has been well maintained, and it is satisfactory to be able to report reductions both in the number of punishments awarded and the number of Disciplinary Boards held, viz.: 1925 1926 1927 777 622 580 465 223 183 Punishments awarded Disciplinary Board cases The majority of the punishments awarded were for neglecting to patrol beats, exceeding the period allowed for refreshments and other similar breaches of discipline. The reduction of the number of cases coming forward is ascribed to the change of hours for Station Officers and to a general improvement in the efficiency of supervision. On 29th July, 1927, the Police (Appeals) Act, 1927, came into operation. The Act gives to any police officer dismissed or required to resign the right to appeal to the Secretary of State. During 1927 eight men availed themselves of this right and in every case the appeal was dismissed by the Secretary of State. Warrant Officers Committee. In result of the discovery of certain irregularities in connection with the work of warrant officers employed at Courts, a Committee has been set up under the chairmanship of the Chief Constable, No. 4 District, to consider and report on the procedure with a view to prevent the recurrence of such irregularities. It is hoped that the Committee will submit its report shortly. Promotion. The number of men presenting themselves to the Promotion Board for examination showed no decrease. There is still ample room for improvement in the standard reached by the candidates. Removals from the Force-Pensions, etc.-The percentage of removals was about normal. Of the 1,038 men who left the Force, 97 found medically unfit (including 11 as the result of injury on duty) resigned with pensions under the provisions of the Police Pensions Act, 1921; 62 found medically unfit were granted gratuities and 1 who resigned through ill-health was not entitled to pension or gratuity; 101 resigned voluntarily; 38 were required to resign; 24 were dismissed and 40 died. 675 officers having completed 25 years' service or more retired on ordinary pensions. Rateable deductions were returned in the cases of 133 men and 2 women constables. Pensions were granted to 122 widows of police officers, and gratuities were granted to 2 widows. Annual allowances were granted to 75 children of deceased police officers. In addition, rateable deductions were returned in the cases of 503 officers who were dismissed in the strike of 1919 and 5 ordinary dismissals, under the provisions of the Police Pensions Act, 1926. Mounted Branch. The strength of the Mounted Police remained unchanged during the year and the duties falling upon them were, in the main, normal. They proved of great value in dealing with the large crowds which assembled in the neighbourhood of the American Embassy on the 10th August and their work was most effective also on the occasion of the floods in the early morning of the 7th January, when they were able, by riding their horses through the water, to reach and assist human beings and animals who would otherwise in all probability have been drowned. The number of times the Mounted Police have been specially employed in addition to their daily duties is 501. As in previous years, they have been found particularly useful owing to their mobility, in keeping traffic fluid in congested thoroughfares. Their effectiveness in dealing with infringements of traffic regulations is demonstrated by the number of charges and cases reported for process, which amounted during the year, in respect of traffic only, to 426. The Metropolitan Mounted Police won the King's Cup at Richmond for the best trained police horse in the United Kingdom for the seventh year in succession. The Annual Horse Show was again held at Imber Court in aid of charities and Service funds. The proposal mentioned last year to start a forge at Limehouse has not yet been put into effect, but it is hoped to open it early this year. Women Police.-In February, 1927, you gave your approval to the Terms and Conditions of Service of Women Constables, which had been under consideration for some time. Special attention. has been directed to the work of this branch of the Force. Transport. In outer Divisions all the Chief Inspectors and Divisional Detective Inspectors and certain of the Sub-Divisional Inspectors have been supplied with light motor cars in place of the motor cycle combinations previously provided. The resultant increase in efficiency has fully repaid the small additional cost involved. Special Constabulary Reserve.-The number of Special Constables attached to the Reserve at the end of 1927 amounted to 23,661 (including 2,524 belonging to the Auxiliary Force). Medical.-Average daily number of sick :- 597.96 48.80 646.76 The daily average loss on the whole of the Force by sickness shows a percentage of 3.53 as against 3.31 in 1926 and 3.66 in 1925. The increase over 1926 is possibly attributable to the abnormally wet summer. Admission to Hospitals.-The numbers of Police admitted to hospital on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer or Divisional Surgeons and with the consent of the Commissioner were : General Hospitals of the Metropolis (prin cipally St. Thomas's) Special Hospitals (principally the Hospital Cottage Hospitals in exterior Districts of the Naval and Military Hospitals Other Hospitals 725 133 10 53 7 928 |