Catalogue description Royal Commission on the Police: Minutes, Evidence and Papers

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Details of HO 272
Reference: HO 272
Title: Royal Commission on the Police: Minutes, Evidence and Papers
Description:

Papers of the Royal Commission under the chairmanship of Sir Henry Urmston Willink on the police. They consists mainly of files of evidence, correspondence and details of meetings and visits.
Date: 1929-1963
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Creator:

Royal Commission on the Police, 1960-1962
Physical description: 165 file(s)
Access conditions: Subject to 30 year closure unless otherwise stated
Administrative / biographical background:

The Royal Commission on the Police was appointed by Royal Warrant on 25 January 1960 under the Chairmanship of Sir Henry Urmston Willink QC, MC, JP.

Its terms of reference were: To consider and make recommendations on: (1) the constitution and functions of local police authorities; (2) the status and accountability of members of police forces, including chief officers of police; (3) the relationship of the police with the public and the means of ensuring that complaints by the public against the police are effectively dealt with; (4) the broad principles which should govern the remuneration of the constable, having regard to the nature and extent of police duties and responsibilities and need to attract and retain an adequate number of recruits with the proper qualifications.

Two reports were presented to Parliament: in November 1960 an Interim Report (Cmnd. 1222) which dealt with the fourth term of reference, and in May 1962 the Final Report (Cmnd. 1728). The reports were used to formulate the Police Act 1964.

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