§ 29. Sir H. Harrisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recruits enlisted into the police forces in England in 1963 and 1964 held university degrees.
§ Mr. George ThomasThe figures for police forces in England and Wales are one in 1963 and five in 1964.
§ Sir H. HarrisonAre not the Minister and his right hon. and learned Friend rather alarmed by this very low rate? Recruiting generally for the police force is good. If our Government Departments and big business have a leavening of university men, will not the Home Secretary—in view of the mounting crime wave—look again at the possibility of offering better financial rewards or accelerated promotion for recruited university graduates?
§ Mr. ThomasThere are now 65 university graduates in the police force, of whom 21 have external degrees. We have recently taken a number of steps which will encourage graduates to enter the police force. If the hon. Member would like me to do so, I will send him the details of what we are doing.
Mr. ThonaeycroftDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that this is not a satisfactory state of affairs? Will he give an undertaking that he and the Home Office will attach high priority to attracting graduates into the police force, and if the terms are not adequate at the moment, will he have them put right? Will he circulate the steps that he is taking in the OFFICIAL REPORT, SO that we can all see them?
§ Mr. ThomasI will certainly consider the latter request, and do so if it is possible. I would point out, however, that in 1953 one graduate came in; in 1954, three came in; in 1956, one; in 1959, one, and in 1961, one—so that this is not a new problem. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman, however, that we are trying all we can, because we want the police force to have its full share of graduates.