A DISGRACE TO THE LONDON POLICE. [To THE EDITOR OF
THE " SPECTATOR.") fig,—On Friday last at about 11.30 a.m. two special constables en duty in Hyde Park on the north side of the Serpentine were set upon by a body, some thirty strong and mostly young men, of the regular Police Force marching through the park as strikers. They ordered the two "specials " to take off their arm- lets instantly and go off duty, on pain of being flung into the Serpentine. The " specials "—both of whom were well over the military age specified in even the latest Military Service Act— refused. They chanced to be brave men. Then the thirty rushed at the two, tore off their armlets and caps, hustled and loaded them with insults. A crowd gathered, including one good man and true, an Australian soldier. This man came forward and tried his best to protect the two "specials," but what can three do against thirty? In the end the assailants—accusing the two specials of being shirkers from the Army'—went their way. The two "specials" were left in possession, and they continued their patrol. I venture to think that every right-minded man, in or out of the London Police Force, will agree that they behaved like men, while their assailants behaved like cads. The Australian soldier, who alone had the pluck to stand by the two men, ought surely to be traced—.either by the Army, or by the new head of the police—and suitably honoured. Had there been ten or half a dozen more men of his stamp on the spot, instead of a crowd of onlookers, the outrage would not have taken place. I write to you because I strongly feel this incident of the strike ought not to be hushed up. Possibly the bulk of the London police will them- selves desire to wash their hands of all part in it.—I am, Sir, AN OLD ADMIRER OF THE LONDON POLICE.
September 2nd. 1918.
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