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Paramilitaries begin to cause concern
Paramilitaries in England
Hansard 24 October 1911
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the formation of a volunteer police force by some private organisation to interfere in the case of a strike has been brought to his notice; whether the Home Office have been consulted at all as to its formation or regulations; and what steps His Majesty's Government intend to take if these volunteer police attempt to interfere with pickets in the carrying out of their lawful functions?
§ Mr. McKENNA
The Home Office was informed of the proposal to organise this body, but has not been consulted, and if consulted, would not have undertaken to supply advice, as to its formation and regulations. If the volunteer police should interfere with the pickets in the exercise of their lawful rights, the pickets will be entitled to protection as in the case of any other form of unlawful interference.
~~~ Letter published in Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail 18 November 1911 Volunteer Police Force Proposals are being developed for the creation of a volunteer body to assist the community at large by preventing the disturbance or breakdown of any Service of Public Utility. This body will voluntarily assist in carrying on Transport and other Services of vital importance to the distribution of the necessities of life to the community at large.
The Volunteer Police Force will also offer its protection to men desiring to work from being compelled by force or threats unwillingly to abandon their employment with a view to prevent any breach of the peace or the disruption of the Food Supply of the Community.
Any businessman faced with with such threats or any honest man wishing help in returning to work without hindrance is encouraged to contact the undersigned at the address given.
Abercorn
President
C. E. StJ. Blenkinsopp
Secretary
~~~ Hansard 28 November 1911 § Mr. WEDGWOOD
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has further considered the matter of the formation of the volunteer police force, last raised with him on 24 October last and whether he is aware of recent advertisements offering the services of this body to employers nationally?
§ Mr. McKENNA
I refer the Honorable Member to my answer on that occasion. The Home Office has not been consulted, and if consulted, would not have undertaken to supply advice, as to its formation and regulations. Any actions that may or may be taken by such a body are hypothetical.
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD
Will pickets be allowed to have life preservers the same as the volunteer police force?
Mr. DUNCAN
Will they be allowed to carry revolvers?
§ Mr. McKENNA
They will obey the ordinary law which governs the life of the ordinary private citizen.
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD
Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the instructions sent to officers saying that life preservers will be supplied and that the ring-leaders of the pickets will be "made for"?
§ Mr. McKENNA
If there is any breach of the law the hon. Member will find the police authorities only too resolute to put a stop to any such breach.
§ Mr. O'GRADY
May I ask whether in view of the fact that these men are purposely armed with bludgeons to break people's heads, and therefore commit a breach of the peace, the Home Office cannot intervene?
§ Mr. McKENNA
Wild statements are very frequently made. It would be impossible in the case of any wild statement of this kind for the Home Office to intervene. I am informed that the Home Office has no responsibility as regards these so-called volunteer police.
§ Mr. MORRELL
Has any necessity been shown for those police?
§ Mr. McKENNA
I am not responsible for them.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSON
Is it not the duty of every citizen to assist the civil authority in case of riot?
§ Mr. McKENNA
Yes.
Mr. DUNCAN
Is it the duty of every citizen to carry a bludgeon?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD
I will raise the whole question on the Adjournment.
~~~ Hansard 29 November 1911 § Mr. W. THORNE
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state how many men have now been enrolled in the Volunteer Police Force; if he is aware that over 90 per cent. of the men are non-union men; and if it is the intention of the employers to use the men not only to protect their property, but to work in the places of the men who may be out on strike?
§ Mr. McKENNA
I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme. The so-called volunteer police force is a private organisation, over which I have no control, and as to whose numbers I have no information.
~~~ Hansard 04 December 1911 § Mr. WEDGWOOD
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the volunteer police force intend to issue to their men uniforms and life preservers; and whether he will call for samples of these and see that the uniform is not a colourable imitation of that of the police?
§ Mr. PONSONBY
asked whether this force has been raised by, or at the instance of, the railway companies and mining companies; and who is the president of the force and responsible for its behaviour?
§ Mr. MORRELL
asked (1) when and by whom the right hon. Gentleman was informed of the proposal to organise a force of volunteer police, and under whose orders these police will act; (2) whether he has considered the added danger of a breach of the peace that may arise through the organising and arming of a force of volunteer police to act under the orders of private persons during a time of strike; and whether he has any reason to suppose that the ordinary police forces of the country are not sufficient to preserve order?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)
The Home Secretary was first informed of the proposed volunteer police on 16th September last by Mr. W. M. Power. As I have already explained in answer to questions in the House, I am in no way responsible for the organisation. I have no knowledge of the body except from the statements which it has published. From these I learn that the Duke of Abercorn is president of the force, but the extent of the president's functions and responsibility are not set out. I do not know whether any railway or mining companies are supporting the movement. It is stated that the volunteer police force are to wear a distinguishing uniform, or, at any rate, a badge. It is a statutory offence, both in the Metropolis and elsewhere, to assume the dress or otherwise pretend falsely to be a member of a police force. It is well known that the ordinary police forces of the country are not and cannot be made so powerful as to be capable of maintaining law and order unaided in all emergencies; and it is the duty of all citizens to assist them in so doing. But it appears to me that all those who desire to fulfil that duty should not form an independent organisation whose methods inevitably become open to suspicion, but should put themselves in direct communication with the responsible police authorities. The Home Office has recently advised the police authorities to take steps to supplement the ordinary force should occasion arise; and the additions to the strength of the police so provided will act under the directions of the chief constables.
§ Sir W. BYLES
If private citizens do discharge the duties indicated would it not then be unnecessary at any time to call in the military to keep civil order?
§ Mr. McKENNA
That is a hypothetical question which I cannot answer without reference to a particular case.
§ Sir W. BYLES
Surely it is not hypothetical.
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD
Does the Home Office advice allow for the use by the police of this volunteer force as has recently been suggested by Lord Abercorn.
§ Mr. McKENNA
I repeat my statement earlier, namely that those who desire to fulfil their duty to the police should not form an independent organisation whose methods inevitably become open to suspicion, but should put themselves in direct communication with the responsible police authorities.
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD
Will this volunteer force have any power to effect arrests, as they state in their communications to members?
§ Mr. McKENNA
They will have powers no different from those of ordinary citizens. They will have no special powers.
§ Mr. W. THORNE
Has the right hon. Gentleman any objection to an organisation of labour forces in a similar way, to be armed with similar weapons?
§ Mr. McKENNA
The hon. Gentleman will see the perils and dangers anybody must run who attempts to enrol an organisation of this sort.
§ Mr. JAMES ROWLANDS
Will the right hon. Gentleman take an opportunity of informing the public of the difference between these bodies and ordinary special constables organised by the police authorities when required?
§ Mr. McKENNA
I think that suggestion an extremely valuable one; but I am not yet aware that this body is in existence.
Mr. KING
Will the right hon. Gentleman communicate his condemnation of this movement to the Duke of Abercorn?
§ Mr. McKENNA
I should think the Duke will be aware of what takes place in this House.
~~~ Bradford Daily Argus 15 Dec 1911 VOLUNTEER POLICE FORCE. The Bradford branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants met on Sunday, and resolved that a volunteer police force for service during strikes, as recently created by Lord Abercorn and others is a menace to their liberties. It was decided to recommend the central executive to form a trade union Physical Protection League, which would meet on equal terms “the bullies of organised capital."