Lord InglewoodMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will encourage all the countries in the EC to raise and train voluntary constabulary or auxiliaries, to enable them to back up their regular police forces, and in particular to help in the control of dangerous drugs.
The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)My Lords, we encourage all chief constables to recruit a reserve force to help the regular force. These are known in this country as special constables. Each country in the Economic Community is responsible for its own police force, and if a government seek our advice we will gladly help.
Lord InglewoodMy Lords, so far, the noble Earl has gone a short distance, but he has not shown any great interest in the international side (which I mentioned in my Question) or in the co-operation, or, particularly, in connection with the control of dangerous drugs.
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, as the House will be aware, there is considerable co-operation between the police forces throughout Europe on the matter of drugs. Whether special constables have a role in combating drugs offences is, we think, questionable because of the high specialist requirements that the drugs squads and the regional crime squads need.