§ 25. Mr. Medlicottasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present authorised establishment, and what is the present actual strength, of the police force in London and the provinces, respectively.
§ Mr. EdeOn 31st December, 1947, the Metropolitan City of London, and provincial police male establishment figures were 19,765, 976, and 46,833 respectively, and the respective actual strengths were 14,703, 726 and 38,845.
§ Mr. MedlicottIs not one of the first responsibilities of the Government to maintain civil order, and do not these figures disclose a very serious shortage in the effective police force of the country at the present time?
§ Mr. BeswickIn view of the figures which my right hon. Friend has disclosed of the under-establishment of the police force, why does he permit the kind of meetings which were referred in earlier Questions, which makes such an undue drain on the inadequate police force?
§ Mr. EdeI do not permit the meetings. I have no power to suppress them. As I have already indicated, they make no undue drain on the police force.
§ Mr. OsborneIs the Home Secretary aware that many of his supporters seem to be suffering from "Mosleyitis"?
§ Mr. Gerald WilliamsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that to increase the strength of the police force would be an economic proposition in that it would save money which is lost by burglaries and other offences?