§ 19. Sir REGINALD BLAKERasked the Home Secretary what is the estimated nett annual saving to be effected by the closing of the police station at Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex; and what is the annual amount raised by the Sunbury-on-Thames urban district council for police purposes?
§ Sir H. SAMUELThe closing of this station will save about £2,500 a year. This saving does not arise out of any reduction in the police protection afforded to the district, but is solely in respect of the station staff which is no longer required. With the police rate at its present level, the Sunbury urban district will contribute about £6,600 this year to the Metropolitan police fund.
§ Sir R. BLAKERDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend to persist in this decision, in face of the earnest representations made by the inhabitants to the local authority?
§ Sir H. SAMUELI think those representations must have been made under a misapprehension. This will have no effect upon the police protection of the district. The inhabitants of Sunbury-on-Thames are interested, like other taxpayers, in saving £2,500 a year.
§ Sir R. BLAKERDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that this particular neighbourhood has been subject in recent months to a very large increase in crimes of violence and murder.
§ Sir H. SAMUELThis will not affect that point.
Mr. HUTCHISONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of the outer districts of London are growing at a very rapid rate and that in many cases the police are not adequate for these new districts.
§ Sir H. SAMUELThat is why the Commissioner of Police is making all practicable economies without interfering with efficiency, in order that the expenditure on the force may be used to the best advantage.