§ 60. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary whether he insists upon the local police authorities keeping up to the standard of one police constable per 1,000 population in rural districts, where practically no crime exists arid, where the people are all practically known to each other; if this be the same standard required in urban districts, where altogether different conditions prevail; and, in view of the present national situation, is he prepared to agree to the suggestion of the local authorities that a lower standard should be fixed for the rural districts?
§ Sir J. SIMONThere is no fixed standard either in counties or in boroughs. The proportion of police to population varies widely according to the local conditions. In many rural districts it is much less than one per thousand; all that is required is that the force should be efficient in numbers and discipline.