§ 1. Mr. Simon Hughes (Southwark, North and Bermondsey)What representations he has received from chief constables about the number of police officers needed in England. [44241]
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Jack Straw)As police authority for London, I have continuing discussions with the Commissioner about police numbers and other matters in the metropolis. Four chief constables in England made representations about various aspects of this year's police funding settlement, but none made specific mention of police officer numbers. Chief constables understand that, under legislation passed by the previous Government, it is for them to determine the number of police officers in their force on the basis of the resources available to them.
§ Mr. HughesThe Home Secretary will, no doubt, have read the letter written, at the end of last month, by the 2 Association of Police Authorities that makes it clear that the level of Government funding over recent years has been insufficient to sustain police numbers. Given that numbers have decreased in recent years, will the Home Secretary tell the House whether the comprehensive spending review will guarantee that in each of the three years to come, for which it is responsible, there will be an increase in police numbers across England and Wales?
§ Mr. StrawWe made resources available to the police forces in England and Wales for this year that, to quote one of the chief constables who made representations to us,
were more than originally envisaged.The hon. Gentleman will have to await the results of the comprehensive spending review, but I can tell him that, as at June 1998, police numbers in the Walworth and Peckham areas that he represents increased by 20 compared with last year.
§ Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)Does my right hon. Friend agree that however many police officers are recruited, they should be able competently to investigate crime? Is he aware that many of us are shocked by the details of police incompetence and indifference that have emerged from the inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence? I praise my right hon. Friend for setting up the inquiry, but is he aware that when it is completed, many questions will be asked and certainly those in senior positions in the police force in London may be asked whether it is right for them to continue in their job?
§ Mr. StrawI established the judicial inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence and surrounding matters under powers under the Police Act 1997. Given that the inquiry still continues, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on it until I have received the report.
§ Sir Norman Fowler (Sutton Coldfield)Contrary to what the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) just said, is not the Home Secretary aware that the strength of the police in post 3 increased by more than 15,000, or 14 per cent., under the previous Conservative Government? However, the question does not relate to our record, but to what the Government will do. Will the Home Secretary at least give an assurance that when new legislation adds new duties to the police, he will recognise that there is an unanswerable case for more police on the ground?
§ Mr. StrawOne thing that we shall not do is make promises that we shall not fulfil. Police numbers may have risen up to 1992 by the relatively small percentage that the right hon. Gentleman mentioned, but he forgot to mention that crime doubled in that period. Moreover, between 1992 and 1997, the previous Government promised that police numbers would rise by 5,000, but instead they fell by 765. We intend to ensure that police forces have the resources that they need, but we shall bear in mind the sage words of the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Mr. Davis), who said:
There is an enormous variation in the performance of police forces.It is crucial that we deal with police forces' output, as well as their input.