HC Deb 14 May 1970 vol 801 cc1432-3
12. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain a report from the chief constable on the proposals he has for improving the number of vehicles and other mechanical aids to crime detection in use by the West Midlands Police Force and how present levels compare with those in use in 1963–64.

Mr. Elysian Morgan

At present 289 vehicles and 510 personal radios are available; the comparable figures in 1964 were 158 and 8. The chief constable intends to maintain this improved standard.

Mrs. Short

I thank my hon. Friend for that encouraging reply, but is he aware that there is concern in the West Midlands force about undermanning? Nevertheless, the figures show that this Government have shown much more concern for the detection and tracking down of crime and criminals than the Opposition when they were in power, and this makes their recent conversion to law and order look pretty thin.

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