HC Deb 01 March 1973 vol 851 cc1685-7
11. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve relations between the police and the coloured community in the Metropolitan Police district.

Mr. Carlisle

My right hon. Friend is giving every encouragement to the wide variety of steps taken by the Commis- sioner of Police of the Metropolis to foster and maintain good relations with coloured people. These include the appointment of laison officers, special training arrangements and formal and informal meetings with representatives of the different communities.

Mr. Fraser

May I pay tribute to the Metropolitan Police for the efforts they have taken in trying to foster good community relations? Will the Government provide public money to continue the scholarships which have been available for police officers to travel to countries from which coloured people come, and which have been extremely successful? Will the Minister of State make use of the suggestions of the Select Committee on Race Relations that attempts should be made to recruit more coloured policemen, and perhaps look for recruitment from traffic wardens, with training schemes provided to enable them to pass police entry examinations?

Mr. Carlisle

I am grateful to the hon. Member for what he said about the Metropolitan Police. They do a great deal to help community relations. I will bear in mind his comments made about assistance for those sent abroad to study the problems of community relations. As for recruiting coloured policemen, although the figure is not large, we have 12 coloured policemen and one coloured policewoman in the Metropolitan force.

Mr. Grieve

In taking steps to ensure good relations between the police and the coloured community will my hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that good relations between the police and any part of the community are a two-way matter? Will he do his best to ensure that those who are concerned with the coloured community, leaders in youth clubs and elsewhere, do their best to educate the coloured community in the duties of the police and the obligations of a good citizen in this country?

Mr. Carlisle

I entirely agree with what my hon. and learned Friend has said. A responsibility clearly rests on community leaders to do their best to ensure good relations with the police as well.

Mr. Lipton

Is the Minister of State aware that, whatever conditions prevail outside the parliamentary constituency of Brixton, I have had no complaints for quite a long time from my constituents about worsening community relations or undesirable conduct on the part of the police? My constituents have many other things to complain about.

Mr. Carlisle

I am glad to hear what the hon. Gentleman says. That again shows, as the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. John Faser) said, that the Metropolitan Police are making great efforts in this matter, and are being successful.