HC Deb 06 July 1978 vol 953 cc636-8
8. Mr John Hunt

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis with regard to the proposed closure of police stations and offices in the Greater London area.

Dr. Summerskill

The Commissioner has kept my right hon. Friend informed of the studies he is currently undertaking of local policing arrangements in the Metropolitan Police district, one aspect of which includes the future of existing police stations. No proposals have as yet been made.

Mr. Hunt

Is the hon. Lady aware that among the proposed closures is the West Wickham office in my constituency? At a time of growing crime and violence, would it not be the height of folly to close down an office which provides a point of contact and reassurance for the general public? As the shortage of police manpower was given as the original reason for the survey to which the hon. Lady has referred, could she now persuade the Commissioner at least to defer the implementation of this closure until we see the effect on police recruitment of the forthcoming pay rises?

Dr. Summerskill

I assure the hon. Gentleman that no firm decisions to close any particular station have yet been taken, as I said in my answer, and that if there was such a decision there would be consultations with the police and with civil staff representative organisations. I can only say that there is no such proposal.

Mr. Flannery

Does my hon. Friend think that there is any relationship between the apparent drop in police numbers and the very large number of people who—according to the major article in The Times yesterday—are joining private organisations such as Securicor, where, for instance, we are told that about 150,000 people are involved? This seems such a massive number that one wonders whether there is any relationship between these trends.

Dr. Summerskill

I think I can say that there is no relationship. If he compares the figures carefully and notes the times when these transfers were taken, my hon. Friend will see that there is no relationship.

Mr. Boscawen

Has the hon. Lady seen a report in the press today about a festival sites welfare officer being appointed, at a cost to her Department of £7,000, to attend three pop festivals? Does she think that that is a right priority in the use of her funds?

Mr. Speaker

Order. This Question is about the closure of police stations in London. Has the hon. Gentleman a supplementary question about police stations in London?

Mr. Boscawen

Does not the hon. Lady agree that the closure of police stations on the one hand and the appointment of such officers on the other shows a wrong sense of priorities?