HC Deb 22 August 1940 vol 364 cc1442-4
13. Sir F. Fremantle

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the need for control and protection of young girls and women in the neighbourhood of camps, barracks and factories by women police and of the value attached to their services by the chief constables of certain towns and by His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland; and whether he will issue an Order under the Defence Regulations making such appointments obligatory and extending their work to areas hitherto denied such services?

43. Mr. Levy

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to exert any pressure, financial or otherwise, on recalcitrant local police authorities which decline to act upon his suggestion that women should be appointed to undertake certain police duties, having regard to the growing call for men for other duties?

Sir J. Anderson

I fully recognise the advantage of appointing additional policewomen for the purposes to which my hon. Friend calls attention, and, as I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) on 15th August, I have recently asked all police authorities in England and Wales to consider afresh, in the light of present war conditions, whether further provision should be made for the employment of policewomen or women police auxiliaries in their districts.

Sir F. Fremantle

The circular suggests that as an alternative. Is the alternative not rather inferior, in that the auxiliary police are not able to do the most essential work of patrolling?

Sir J. Anderson

I think it depends rather on the nature of the duties. There are duties for which patrolling is not necessary.

Sir F. Fremantle

Does it mean that these women are not necessary?

Sir J. Anderson

No, Sir, but the real urgency is not for the actual establishment of full-time constables. I think that is made quite clear in the circular. The circular also deals with the all-important question of training women for these rather important duties.

Miss Rathbone

While I very much welcome the new circular as being an improvement on the old, in view of the great urgency of the appointment of these women, especially in the neighbourhood of military camps, where there is a real and definite use for them, cannot the right hon. Gentleman bring rather stronger pressure to bear on local police authorities?

Sir J. Anderson

I think that my hon. Friend may be aware that, in the circumstances, the local authorities are asked to consult with the military authorities in their areas, and they have been asked to report to the Home Office what action they decide to take as a result of the circular. I think that that is as far as we can go.