HL Deb 27 April 1978 vol 390 cc1976-7

3.22 p.m.

Lord REIGATE

My 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 whether they will give the same backing to a nationwide publicity campaign to attract more recruits to the special Constabulary as was recently given to a similar campaign in support of the TAVR.

Lord HARRIS of GREENWICH

My Lords, recruitment to the Special Constabulary is primarily a matter for individual chief officers of police, whose expenditure on recruiting attracts a Government grant of 50 per cent. Direct Government backing is given by advertisements in national newspapers in support of local campaigns.

Lord REIGATE

My Lords, having expressed the minimum of gratitude for that rather disappointing reply, may I draw the Minister's attention to the fact that the strength of the Special Constabulary is now about one-third of what it was 20 years ago, that crime has increased and that the police are under establishment? Does he not agree that this should be taken more seriously and that a really nationwide campaign, such as was given backing by the Prime Minister for the territorial forces, should be repeated in this equally urgent case?

Lord HARRIS of GREENWICH

My Lords, there are two aspects to that particular question. There is a difference in comparing the Special Constabulary with the TAVR. The difference is that the local financial basis for police forces and Special Constabulary units makes comparison with a centrally funded body very difficult.

On the second aspect of the noble Lord's question, I would not disagree with him in any way. I think the role of the Special Constabulary is extremely important and is recognised as such both by the Home Office and by chief officers of police. It is right to say that the strength of the Special Constabulary is lower than it has been for some time, but it is only fair to add that the decline in numbers over recent years is largely due to the policy of weeding out inactive members.