§ 21. Dr. Winstanleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made under the relevant amalgamation schemes for the local supervision of police forces in the 36 areas in which police areas do not now coincide with a single local authority area.
§ Mr. CallaghanIn these areas the statutory responsibility for maintaining an efficient police force rests on combined police authorities. At least two-thirds of the members are members of local authorities in the area.
§ Dr. WinstanleyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is real anxiety lest these police amalgamations should lead to a reduction in accountability as regards the police? Is he also aware that there is a growing and regrettable tendency, now that watch 1535 committees have disappeared, for people to look more to the Home Office and to the central Government as the bodies responsible for the police? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider this again to see whether anything further is required?
§ Mr. CallaghanOn the last part of the hon. Gentleman's question, hon. Members are responsible for people looking to the Home Office, if I am to judge from the matters on which I am asked to intervene. On the first part, I agree that this is a possible consequence of amalgamations, but, as two-thirds of the members of every police authority must come from the local councils, I hope that they will maintain a great deal of contact with local communities.