HC Deb 20 February 1986 vol 92 cc468-9
7. Mr. Andrew MacKay

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he will use in considering the possibility of approving a further increase in the authorised establishment of the Thames Valley police.

Mr. Shaw

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will consider that matter in the autumn on the basis of the demonstrated needs of the Thames Valley police and other forces at that time and in the light of further advice from Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary.

Before the recent increase of 50 posts, 320 additional posts had already been approved for Thames Valley since May 1979, which was more than for any other provincial force.

Mr. MacKay

Is my hon. Friend aware that there are high hopes that extra provision will be made available by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in the autumn? The principal criterion that should be considered is that despite the extra 50 police officers that have ben allocated this year, Thames Valley has the worst ratio of police to population of any force in the country. Our county councils are happy to fund their part of the extra cost.

Mr. Shaw

I am grateful for my hon. Friend's remarks. He is right in saying that the Thames Valley police force has a low police-to-population ratio. There are other significant factors that we must take into account, including the effectiveness and efficiency of the force and progress on civilianisation and crime statistics. I assure him that a thorough review will be undertaken.

Mr. Soley

Does the Minister accept that having more police officers does not necessary lead to more police officers on the beat? As the public rightly want community policing, will he take up the Labour party's suggestion to enter into negotiations with the Police Federation to make a community police officer's job part of a career structure, which is suitably remunerated?

Mr. Shaw

I do not think that on reflection the hon. Gentleman will expect me to welcome that suggestion. However, he will expect me to welcome the fact that the police service has shown itself to be capable of tackling the task with which it is faced. We expect the development of community officers and beat officers to be an important part of that progress.

Mr. Watts

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Thames Valley police force is anxious to develop community policing? If our application for an additional 200 officers had been approved, that is how the resources would have been used. When the force needs 753 additional officers to bring it up to the average complement of forces outside London, an allocation of 50 out of an application for 200 is very meagre and disappointing.

Mr. Shaw

I recognise my hon. Friend's disappointment, but he must understand that my right hon. Friend must assess all needs and all priorities in the review of provincial forces. That is what we propose to do.