§ 7. Mr. Molloyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give figures for police recruitment for the Metropolitan area over the past two years.
§ Mr. TaverneThe figures are 1,214 men and 100 women in 1965, and 1,374 men and 96 women in 1966.
§ Mr. MolloyI congratulate my hon. Friend on being able to announce those figures. In so far as many of our British Commonwealth citizens resident in this country have made massive contributions to our State services, particularly in the hospital services, might they not now be encouraged to assist in the services of the police, enhance their own dignity and earn the community's appreciation?
§ Mr. TaverneI assure my hon. Friend that it is certainly the Government's policy to encourage coloured recruits for the police to come forward, provided they are up to the required standards.