§ LORD O'HAGANMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent consultations they have had with the Police Federation about the police role in community relations.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD WINDLESHAM)My Lords, the Government have had no recent consultations specifically with the Police Federation about the police role in community relations. But this is a matter to which the Police Service attach particular importance; and it follows that many aspects of community relations are the subject of regular discussion and consultation at all levels with police representative bodies.
§ LORD O'HAGANMy Lords, is the Minister aware that the Police Federation have put out feelers and have been made to feel that they would be smacked down if they initiated consultations in this area? Doe he not think that it would be sensible to initiate consultations with the Police Federation in this field, because they have such a good record?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, we are, as I have explained, working very closely with the police forces themselves. There has not been consultation with the Police Federation, but there has been continuing and close consultation with the police forces in all those parts of the country where there is a substantial immigrant community.
§ LORD O'HAGANMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the Police Federation represent the people who actually have to enforce the laws and deal with the problems of community relations at the grass roots? Is he aware that the police feel that there has been a consistent history of lack of consultation by successive Governments with the people who actually have to enforce the law in this particular field?
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, I would not accept that. The subject is a very wide one. On particular aspects of community relations—for example, the training of police officers—a Working Party has been set up under Home Office chairmanship on which both the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Police Federation are represented.