§ 13. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the present strength of the drug squad in London; and what proposals he has to aid recruitment of more officers in the immediate future.
§ Mr. CallaghanI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 12th February to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler).—[Vol. 795, c. 375–6.]
§ Mrs. ShortAs my right hon. Friend is concerned with a Bill to deal with the tracking down and punishment of pushers of drugs, does not he think that the drug squad needs augmentation? Does not he also agree that, to establish the right relationship with those who are treating drug addicts, drug squad officers shoud stay in post much longer, and that there should be less moving around and more opportunities for promotion within the drug squad?
§ Mr. CallaghanThe short answer is that this matter should always be kept under review, but not only the drug squad is concerned with this social problem. All the 20,000 officers in Greater London have the same powers of arrest in connection with drug offenders as the 1434 drug squad. The drug squad is a small specialised group which is particularly concerned with tracking down pushers, and at present the Commissioner is satisfied that the squad is organised in the way which is likely to get the best results.