§ 29. Mr. Dempseysked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consult chief constables with a view to establishing a regional crime squad for Scotland.
§ Mr. NobleI do not think I would be justified in suggesting a crime squad 980 to cover the whole of Scotland. The regional arrangements in the West of Scotland are well known; appropriate arrangements exist elsewhere, and chief constables generally know that they can readily obtain assistance from larger forces, but I shall of course consider any recommendation about crime squads that may be made by the Home Office Police Research and Planning Unit.
§ Mr. DempseyIs not it nonsensical that the Secretary of State should be allowed to get away with that argument, especially when within the last few weeks a committee of experts has advised the formation of regional crime squads for the United Kingdom as a whole? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the mind of the criminal knows no geographical barrier and that the regional crime squad to which he referred is limited. Is not it about time we had a Scotland, Yard for Scotland—[Hon. Members: "Hear, hear."]—which could be made available to chief constables on request in order to improve criminal detection techniques?
§ Mr. NobleAll this is interesting, but I think that we should wait until the Home Office Police Research and Planning Unit, which is considering the problem, has produced its recommendations.