§ 18. Mrs. Mannasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Scottish detective training school functions for only four weeks each year; and whether he will consider setting up this school on a more permanent basis to provide some link with the study of criminology at United Kingdom universities.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Niall Macpherson)Annual courses for detective officers are held at Edinburgh and Glasgow in alternate years. The arrangements are in accordance with the advice given to my right hon. Friend by the Chief Constables' (Scotland) Association and by a committee of chief constables and other ranks of the police service under the chairmanship of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary. The Chief Constables' (Scotland) Association is at present considering whether the length of the course or the number of courses should be increased and is obtaining the views of detective officers on the subject. Some of the instruction at the courses is given by lecturers from the universities. There are also courses at universities which police officers can attend, such as the extra-mural course on criminal science and administration at Glasgow.
§ Mrs. MannI am glad to know that the matter is to some extent under review. In reviewing the position, however, will the hon. Gentleman have regard to the much superior position of the English constabulary in that at Cambridge there is almost a permanent school? In view of the serious increase of crime, does not the Joint Under-Secretary think that regard should be paid to the recommendations by a well-known sheriff that this matter should be on a more permanent basis?
§ Mr. MacphersonYes, Sir, but England has many more detectives to train. A lot of training is given in forces and detectives can be attached to larger forces for training. In addition, courses for specialist officers such as fingerprint experts are given in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen and there are annual conferences of detective officers from all forces and group conferences at regular intervals for detectives from the west, east, and north of Scotland.