HC Deb 24 April 1986 vol 96 cc411-2
8. Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increased provision has been made for police training in respect of additional discretionary powers to be conferred on the police under public order legislation.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The Department is in close touch with chief officers of police about the training implications of the Public Order Bill, but clearly this will depend on the final form of the Bill when it completes its parliamentary passage.

Mrs. Clwyd

But why force these powers on the police in the first place? They do not want them. They bring the police into party politics. The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has asked for similar powers to be taken from him. If the Government are so insistent, why not do this through the democratically elected local authorities, as in Scotland?

Mr. Shaw

The hon. Lady will bear in mind that the Bill emanated from a review by a commission, the publication of a White Paper and from substantial discussion of the need to modernise the Public Order Act 1936. The Bill also has the approval of the House and is making progress. I look forward to the Bill continuing to make progress in the House.

Mr. Kaufman

Bearing in mind that at times 7 per cent. of the Metropolitan police force are on duty at stalag Wapping to facilitate the distribution of what Mr. Rupert Murdoch laughingly describes as his newspapers, and bearing in mind also the 17 per cent. crime clear-up rate in London, what additional resources are the Government providing for the Metropolitan police to assist them in carrying out their proper duty of coping with the record crime wave in London?

Mr. Shaw

I assure the right hon. Gentleman that the requirements placed upon the Metropolitan police to deal with public order matters are very broad and wide. They are not confined to what is happening at Wapping. The right hon. Gentleman knows full well that there is a substantial requirement for public order policing, whether it be at international soccer matches at Wembley or protecting persons from difficulties while processions and marches pass through the City. I assure him also that the request of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for increased manpower is currently receiving very substantial consideration.

Mr. Greenway

Are not the Government putting twice as much, in real terms, into police resources to enable them to do their job as the last Labour Government provided for the police? The Opposition Front Bench spokesman does nothing but attack the police in vicious and unpleasant ways. In doing so, he is in line with the former Labour-controlled Greater London council and the Labour police committees that are to be found throughout the metropolis.

Mr. Shaw

My hon. Friend is quite right. By the increase from £1.1 billion to £2.8 billion this Government have demonstrated their determination to improve police resources. The thoughts of the right hon. Gentleman made the front page of The Times the other day. When he talks about police firmness and effectiveness, he might at least start by advising those members of his party who are in control of London boroughs that they should take a more effective view of the police than they do now.