HC Deb 19 July 1938 vol 338 cc1989-90
53. Sir W. Brass

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider an increase in the number of police motor-cycle patrols in the place of police-car patrols in the Metropolitan area, as, owing to the congestion of traffic at week-ends, the cars cannot manoeuvre in and out of the traffic for control purposes in the same way as the motor-cycle patrols can do?

The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)

The advantages of motor-cycles under congested traffic conditions are fully appreciated, and such vehicles form a considerable proportion of the vehicles used by the Metropolitan Police experimental mobile patrols. There are, however, other factors to be considered, and any decision on future policy in the matter must await further experience.

Sir W. Brass

Can my hon. Friend say what proportion there are of motorcycle patrols to motor-car patrols?

Mr. Lloyd

Not without notice.