HL Deb 27 January 1953 vol 180 c3

2.40 p.m.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can state the strength of the Metropolitan and other police forces in the United Kingdom to-day, and how this compares with the establishment and the figures for 1938.]

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, on December 31, 1952, the authorised male establishment of the Metropolitan Police Force was 19,647, and the actual strength was 15,957. The comparable figures for other police forces in Great Britain were 59,899 and 55,458. On September 29, 1938, the authorised male establishment of the Metropolitan Police Force was 19,455 and the strength 18,600. The authorised establishment of the other police forces in England and Wales was 42,269 and the strength 41,316. On December 31, 1938, the authorised male establishment of the Scottish forces was 7,018 and the strength 6,930. Since 1938 the male strength in England and Wales has increased by 4,091 and the male strength of the Scottish police by 478.