Huddersfield Police Force (Inquiry)

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — India – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 May 1945.

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Photo of Mr Donald Somervell Mr Donald Somervell , Crewe 12:00, 31 May 1945

I cannot accept the implication that there has been any victimisation in this case. When certain members of the Huddersfield borough police force brought to the notice of the Home Office allegations reflecting on senior officers of the force, it was made quite clear to them that they would have nothing to fear from giving in a spirit of public duty information which they believed to be well founded, but that they would have no immunity from disciplinary proceedings should the allegations be made negligently, wantonly or maliciously in breach of the police discipline code. The information relating to the conduct of individual members of the force which came to light in the course of the tribunal's inquiry was brought to the notice of the watch committee, as disciplinary authority for the force, but that committee was in no way bound by any views expressed by the tribunal. The sergeant referred to was dismissed from the force by the disciplinary authority, not for making a communication to the Home Office, but for insubordinate conduct in that he was found by the disciplinary authority to have wilfully or negligently made false complaints against other members of the force.