§ 30. Sir R. Russellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total establishment of the Metropolitan Police; and what was their total strength in June, 1970 and at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe authorised establishment is 26,055. The strength was 20,872 on 30th June, 1970, and 21,431 on 26th March, 1972.
§ Sir R. RussellI congratulate my right hon. Friend on the increase which those figures show. Can he hold out any hope of still further increases?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe increases are welcome, but I would certainly like to see a much more substantial increase, particularly in the Metropolitan area, and all possible steps are being taken to this end.