Metropolitan Police (Recruitment) (Hansard, 3 February 1983)

§ 5. Mr. Chapman
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the level of recruitment to the Metropolitan police force over the past four years.

§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Patrick Mayhew)
Yes, Sir. During the four years ending on 31 December 1982, the strength of the Metropolitan police increased by 4,310 to 26,271—less than 350 below the authorised establishment for the force.

§ Mr. Chapman
I am grateful to my hon. and learned Friend for that information. Is he aware that Londoners also welcome the Home Secretary's response to the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner's preliminary report on the priorities and problems facing the Metropolitan police in allowing the force to be built up to 27,000 by the end of 1983–84?

§ Mr. Mayhew
The House and London will also welcome the fact that last year 1,000 police officers were put back on foot patrol duties and Sir Kenneth Newman's announcement of his intention to put another 650 on foot patrol, which is where the public want to see them.

§ Mr. Wellbeloved
There has been an improvement in police strength, but does the Minister agree that there needs to be a significant increase in the establishment of the Metropolitan police? Would it not be a significant contribution to the fight against crime if Left-wing extremists were to refrain from promoting street demonstrations, which consume so much police time, and if the Labour party in general were to stop its campaign aimed at undermining the police?

§ Mr. Mayhew
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has told Sir Kenneth Newman that he can expect to build up the force to 27,000 by the end of the next financial year. Large demonstrations are expensive for the police. Any campaign aimed at undermining public confidence in the police will not succeed, but such a campaign would be damaging and retrograde.

§ Mr. Arthur Lewis
Will the Minister suggest to the Commissioner that, although policemen retire at an early age, it might be advisable to arrange for them to stay on or to return to supernumary jobs, such as traffic control and so on, rather than to work for private security firms and so on? That would release younger policemen for the other work. Many policemen would like to take their pensions and carry on with their work.

§ Mr. Mayhew
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his suggestion. It is a matter for the Commissioner, but I am sure that he will take heed of the hon. Gentleman's remarks.

§ Mr. Eggar
In view of Brent council's clear determination to undermine the Hendon training college by its insistence on the reinstatement of two lecturers who have no right to be teaching there in any case, will my hon. and learned Friend confirm that the jobs of the other lecturers, one of whom is a constituent of mine, are not threatened?

§ Mr. Mayhew
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is studying a report from the Commissioner into the episode to which my hon. Friend referred. I do not believe that there is the slightest risk to other jobs. I trust that that is the case.

§ Mr. Snape
Does the Minister welcome the Commissioner's proposals regarding the new consultative procedures for London? Does he agree that those proposals would not have come about without pressure from the GLC and the London boroughs? Am I being a Left-wing subversive by suggesting that the proposals merely bring a little nearer the creation of a proper police authority for the metropolitan area?

§ Mr. Mayhew
Naturally, my right hon. Friend welcomes the Commissioner's proposals on consultative procedures. I do not think that the hon. Gentleman or his party should take the credit for something that was given a large push by Lord Scarman in his report and is plainly common sense.