§ 5. Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of special police squads now operating within the Metropolitan Police force.
§ Mr. R. CarrTeams of headquarters detectives with continuing operational rôles are generally known as squads and their numbers vary from time to time. 1673 Details are given in the Report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for 1972, which was published on 6th June.
§ Mr. CoxI thank the Minister for that reply. Is he aware that there is growing concern as to the rôles that these squads fulfil? Will he say how many men are in the squads, and under whose control they ultimately fall? Is it the Commissioner, or divisional commanders? What are the criteria for their use? It is one thing to use them against serious crime but something else to use them against peaceful demonstrations.
§ Mr. CarrI am not aware of the concern that the hon. Member mentions. I am aware of concern about some of the work of the special patrol group, although I do not mean to say that by being aware of it I accept the validity of it. But that group is not a squad in the sense that the hon. Member was referring to. I believe that these squads are doing first-class work in tackling crime. The greater specialisation on different types of crime, which is inherent in the development of the system, is proving very helpful.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisWhat further consideration has the right hon. Gentleman given to a differential increase in pay for police officers in the Metropolitan Police force? Will he at least confirm that any such increase will in no way effect the total amount of the award to be negotiated for the federated ranks under stage 2 of the Government's prices and incomes policy?