HC Deb 27 October 1949 vol 468 cc1508-9
37. Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the time of the Metropolitan Police is taken up with road traffic work; and if he will introduce a system of road traffic wardens specially trained for this class of work in order to relieve the police to perform the work for which they were primarily appointed.

Mr. Ede

It is not practicable to give a figure representing the overall demands of traffic work on police time, but the total number of men employed full time as mobile patrols and on traffic points represents 6.9 per cent. of the present strength of the Metropolitan Police Force. Traffic work is an integral part of police duty, and I am not satisfied that it would be in the public interest to introduce a separate organisation of traffic wardens.

Mr. Awbery

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the feeling of disturbance about the number of non-detected crimes? It is felt that the police spend so much time on traffic duties and the detection of traffic offences that they cannot give attention to the detection of crime?

Mr. Ede

I hope the figure I have been able to give as a result of this Question will provide some reassurance, but I would also direct my hon. Friend's attention to the Report of the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, with reference to traffic warnings. It is to be found on page 13 of his last Report.

Mr. Scollan

Has my right hon. Friend any figures about the increase of crime since the police went over to the new patrol system, instead of patrolling around the beat as they used to do?

Mr. Ede

So far as England and Wales are concerned, the way in which the police deal with this matter varies from place to place; there has been no wholesale passing over from one system to another.