HC Deb 03 February 1983 vol 36 c408
11. Mr. Eggar

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what limitation is placed by his Department on the number of civilian staff employed by the Metropolitan police.

Mr. Whitelaw

As police authority for the metropolis, I am responsible for determining the size of the civilian support staff employed by the Metropolitan police The current ceiling—excluding traffic wardens, cadets, part-time school crossing patrols and other staff for whom the force is reimbursed by other authorities—is 13,040 and the strength at 31 December 1982 was 12,830. The ceiling will be raised to 13,140 with effect from 1 April 1983. There will then have been increases totalling 400 posts since May 1982.

Mr. Eggar

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that is very welcome news, in that for every additional civilian member of staff employed it is often possible to redeploy a policeman? Is he further aware of the broad welcome throughout London for the proposals by the Commissioner of Police for new policing methods?

Mr. Whitelaw

I am grateful for my hon. Friend's comments on both points. It is especially encouraging that Sir Kenneth Newman has pointed out ways in which he believes it is possible to put more policemen on the beat.

Mr. Christopher Price

Will the Home Secretary encourage the civilian members of the Metropolitan police at present editing the Metropolitan police handbook to speed up the process? We were promised that a copy would be in the Library by the end of January. As January has now ended, and as we take such promises seriously and wish to read the handbook, will the right hon. Gentleman try to hurry things up?

Mr. Whitelaw

Yes, and I trust that the hon. Gentleman will be able to read the handbook very soon.

Mr. Pitt

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the establishment level of the Metropolitan police is pegged roughly at 1965 levels? Does he agree that it is time for a significant increase—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That relates to an earlier question. We are now dealing with the civilian staff element.

Mr. Greenway

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the additional severe strain placed on both civilian staff and police officers of the Metropolitan police by the Labour-controlled GLC police committee spending nearly £500,000 of ratepayers' money encouraging people to make unnecessary complaints against the police?

Mr. Whitelaw

I can only say that I do not know why the GLC is raising all that money from ratepayers when the GLC has no responsibility for the Metropolitan police.