§ 8. Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the establishment of the police in the West Drayton area; to what extent it is under strength; and what steps he is taking to remedy the situation.
§ Dr. SummerskillOn 1st December the Metropolitan Police establishment in the West Drayton area was 134, and the deficiency was 52. Police pay in London has recently been substantially increased, and recruitment publicity is being maintained at a high level.
§ Mr. ShersbyIs the hon. Lady aware that the establishment of the Metropolitan Police in the London borough of Hillingdon as a whole was 240 under strength as at 1st December? Will she, therefore, consider the desirability of supplementing the force by the recruitment of special constables if that is possible? Is the hon. Lady further aware that my constituents in the West Drayton area have been sorely tried by many acts of petty crime in recent months for which no person has so far been apprehended? Does the hon. Lady know that the West Drayton Cricket Club has suffered three burglaries, for which no person has been apprehended? Will she take urgent action to make sure that there are more police constables on the beat in this area, so that my constituents can see that the Home Office is doing something about what to them is an important local matter?
§ Dr. SummerskillAs I said in the debate on the police, everything possible is being done to recruit more police. Fortunately, it was possible to agree an increased London allowance of £275 with effect from 1st April last, in addition to recent national pay increases. It is not yet possible to estimate the total effect on recruitment that this might have. As I say, publicity is being maintained at a high level to recruit more police.
§ Mr. MolloyIs my hon. Friend aware that the Metropolitan Police is more acutely below establishment than is any other police force in the country? In the 1799 London borough of Ealing it is sometimes necessary for pedestrian crossings outside schools on major roads to be controlled by police officers but the police, reluctantly, cannot accept the responsibility because they have insufficient men. There has also been an increase in the number of accidents. Will my hon. Friend take this into account in her endeavours to increase the establishment of the Metropolitan Police?
§ Dr. SummerskillYes, Sir, I am aware of the difficulties to which my hon. Friend refers. Special efforts are being made to recruit more traffic wardens, women police and cadets into the Metropolitan force.