§ 24. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the rate of recruiting in the police force is sufficient to meet wastage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CallaghanDuring the first five months of 1969 recruiting in England and Wales has exceeded wastage by 503.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is no problem of recruiting to the police if he will only give permission to chief constables to raise their targets? Is not this the best way to combat the rising crime rate in this country?
§ Mr. CallaghanI am not wholly sure that the hon. Gentleman is right. If proper standards are to be maintained the police will have to be very competitive to get the recruits they need. They need about 7,500 this year to produce the increase in strength that I want of 2,000. They have got 500 towards the 2,000, so there is plenty of way to go yet.