Police Recruitment

HC Deb 02 December 1971 vol 827 cc637-8

Mr. Lane

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the latest trends in police recruitment.

Mr. Maudling

Recruitment is improving and wastage is lower than in recent years. There has been a net gain in strength of 2,459 police officers in England and Wales in the first ten months of this year, compared with 1,986 for the whole of 1970.

Mr. Lane

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on those encouraging figures. Will he keep in mind that there is still leeway to make up, and will he continue to regard a stronger police force as the top priority in the fight against crime?

Mr. Maudling

Yes, Sir, I accept that entirely. We are making progress, but we should like to see a lot more.

Mr. Ashton

How many of these recruits are school-leavers who cannot find a job anywhere else because of high unemployment?

Mr. Maudling

I cannot say without notice. Wastage is a much more serious problem than recruitment.