§ 6. Mr. Anthony Greenwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that a recent instruction to the effect that officers of the 812 Criminal Investigation Department must travel by public transport unless the use of a police car is absolutely essential will not damage the efficiency of the force ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeDirections as to the observance of economy in the use of police transport were given last April to all members of the Metropolitan Police force in view of the need for economy in public expenditure. The Commissioner is satisfied that the restrictions imposed are in no way harmful to the efficiency of the Criminal Investigation Department or of other branches of the force.
§ Mr. GreenwoodIs not this insistence on members of the Criminal Investigation Department travelling by public transport really rather a silly piece of cheese-paring in view of the way that money is being squandered in other directions, and could not the Home Secretary show rather more confidence in the officers employed by the C.I.D.?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThe Commissioner has control of the operation of the police, and I would remind the hon. Gentleman that he is satisfied. I am also satisfied that there are a great number of duties which the police are called upon to do that could be carried out by public transport. I would also remind the hon. Gentleman that there is no curtailment of any kind in the strictly operational use of cars for patrol or other purposes.
§ Mr. GreenwoodHas the Home Secretary made any attempt to assess the cost to the public of the loss in time involved?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeSurely the hon. Gentleman realises that there must be many jobs which the police, whether C.I.D. or otherwise, can carry out by public transport without any loss of efficiency and without any operational effect. Surely it is right to get economy where possible?