HC Deb 01 May 1969 vol 782 cc1608-9
37. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Sectary of State for the Home Department if he will now call for a report from the. Chief Constable as to the number of police who will be on duty in Caernarvon on the occasion of the Investiture of the Prince of Wales; what police authorities are supplying them; and what is the likely cost to local and national funds.

Mr. Callaghan

The Chief Constable expects that there will be 2,755 police officers—excluding special constables—on duty in Caernarvon to deal with traffic and crowds on the occasion of the Investiture. I will, with permission, list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the police forces from which they are to come. No estimate has been made of the cost involved.

Mr. Hughes

Could the Minister say whether these costs are additional to the estimate of £200,000 which was given by the Secretary of State for Wales? Is it not rather unfair to the citizens of other towns whose police will be withdrawn on that day when there is a possibility that crimes may occur when the police are absent?

Mr. Callaghan

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his concern for the towns from which police are being withdrawn. But I am sure that he will rejoice with me in the expectation that this will be an extremely popular event.

Mr. Hughes

And an expensive one.

Mr. Callaghan

I agree about the expense. If my hon. Friend would care to have them, I will send to him some of the requests which I have been receiving for financial assistance to help with children's tea parties in the streets of my wards.

The following are the police forces and the numbers expected to be on duty:
Police force Number
Gwynedd 484
Birmingham City 103
Cheshire 173
City of London 56
Derby County and Borough 121
Dyfed-Powys 88
Gloucestershire 77
Gwent 69
Lancashire 300
Liverpool and Bootle 132
Manchester and Salford 179
Metropolitan 179
South Wales (i.e. forces to be comprised within the Constabulary on 1st June, 1969) 216
Staffordshire County and Stoke-on-Trent 103
West Mercia 87
West Midlands 68
West Yorkshire 300
Regional crime squad 20
2,755