§ 57. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many county and county borough police forces are now below the establishment; what is the reason for the failure to obtain recruits; and what is being done to encourage recruitment.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir David Maxwell Fyfe)Of the police forces in England and Wales other than the Metropolitan Police Force, nine have vacancies of over 15 per cent. of the authorised establishment, 15 have vacancies of between 10 per cent. and 15 per cent., 42 have vacancies of between 5 per cent. and 10 per cent., 55 have vacancies of less than 5 per cent. and four have no vacancies. Recruiting difficulties persist in the main in certain large industrial areas. As regards the last part of the Question, I cannot usefully add to the statement about police recruitment in general which I made in the course of the debate on the Metropolitan police on 6th May.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the position of the police force in many of our cities is very serious? Will he review the duties performed by the police so that some of them may be performed by people who are not in the force, thus relieving the police?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI am glad to assure the hon. Gentleman that the subject which he asks me to review is constantly under review, and that the review will be continued.
§ Mrs. BraddockWill the Minister look again at Part II of the Oaksey Report, part of which has been implemented? It is not only wages which present difficulty in the recruitment of policemen in industrial areas, but conditions. Some of 613 the recommendations of the Oaksey Report might be very useful if put into operation, and would assist recruitment.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI would remind the hon. Lady that we have put into operation the suggestions relating to negotiating machinery and discipline. I would be very glad to have any individual suggestions which she would like to put to me.