§ 55. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Home Secretary how many men, having joined the Metropolitan Police Force under the short-term service scheme of 10 years, have resigned; and whether any such resignations have been expressed as due to the fact that their prospects were inferior to those prevailing in other departments of the same force and of the police forces in the provinces?
§ Sir S. HoareOut of 1,427 men who have joined the Metropolitan Police Force on short-service engagements, 261 have resigned. Of these, 20 resignations are recorded as due to dissatisfaction with the short-service engagement, and 138 as with a view to joining other police forces.
§ Mr. DaviesIn view of those figures, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that it is worth while continuing this short-term service?
§ Sir S. HoareIt is too early, in my view, to draw any deduction. The short-service system has only been in operation, as the hon. Gentleman knows, for a comparatively limited time.
§ Mr. R. C. MorrisonWill the right hon. Gentleman look into the cost of this scheme, with a view to ascertaining whether the cost of finding these men for the comparatively short term that they are serving is justified?
§ Sir S. HoareI think it is too early either to make an investigation of that kind or to base any conclusions on the figures I have given.