§ 36. Captain STRICKLANDasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the county of Warwick there is one constable to every 959 people, as compared with one officer per 1,137 persons in the county of Derby, and one officer per 1,245 persons in Leicestershire; and whether he will inform the House as to the reason for this disparity?
§ Mr. LLOYDMy right hon. Friend is aware of the figures quoted by my hon. and gallant Friend. The strengths of the county police forces are fixed by the respective standing joint committees, subject to his approval. My right hon. Friend's duty is to satisfy himself that the strengths are sufficient for the proper carrying out of the duties of the police and that, if augmentations are proposed, they are reasonably necessary for this purpose. Population is only one of the factors to be taken into account; crime and traffic are other factors, and some disparities in the proportions of police to population are only to be expected.
§ Mr. EVERARDDoes not this show quite clearly that the people in my constituency are much more law-abiding than the people in that of my hon. and gallant Friend?
§ 38. Captain STRICKLANDasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Chief Constable of Warwickshire has asked for additional help in the strength of the constabulary; and what reasons he has given for this request?
§ Mr. LLOYDI do not know whether the Chief Constable has made any such application to the standing joint committee: they have not applied to my right hon. Friend recently for approval to an increase of strength.