§ 1. Sir G. Sinclairasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the rise of 6.7 per cent. in indictable offences in England and Wales during the first nine months of 1968 and of the shortages of manpower in many police forces, if he will now review his instructions to police authorities to limit from 1st April their recruitment to a small percentage of the vacancies at 31st March in their uniformed establishment.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. James Callaghan)I have authorised an increase of 2,000 police officers in England and Wales for the financial year 1969–70. This is twice the rate of increase authorised for this year.
§ Sir G. SinclairHow can the Home Secretary expect people to swallow that as an adequate Reply, especially in Surrey, where the increase in serious crime last year was 23.5 per cent.? Would he not agree that this limitation itself is an inhibiting factor on recruitment, because it tends to show that the Government do not have a proper priority for their basic responsibility of the fight against crime?
§ Mr. CallaghanThat is a good party speech, but it does not represent the facts. It so happens that this figure will be larger, in terms of actual increase in strength, than for six out of the last eleven years, including some years when the hon. Gentleman's party was in power. I can claim to stand comparison with anything that the hon. Gentleman's party did as a Government in this matter. Of course, the overall strength of the service is much 1540 larger than it was then. If we get away from that kind of thing, we have to consider what the forces can do in the matter of recruitment, when keeping up their standards to establishment. I had a careful check made on that.
§ Mr. HoggHow far does the figure of 2,000 mentioned in the right hon. Gentleman's original reply represent an increase on the policy previously announced under the economy measures? Will he not recognise that not only the increase in crime but also the duties in relation to the control of demonstrations and the discouraging effect of limitations on recruitment have to be taken into account in arriving at the proper figure?
§ Mr. CallaghanThese figures do have to be taken into account. This simple figure neglects the fact that there will be 600 additional traffic wardens this year to relieve the police of some of their duties, and 1,000 additional civilians this year who will also relieve the police of some of their internal functions; so the figures can be out even more. These figures must be looked at in addition to the other figures. I have looked at a number of forces and, although it is not universally true, a number of them, if they manage to get the figures they have been allocated for this year, will do better than they have done for many years past, even when recruitment was unrestricted.