§ Major KELLEYasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in Liverpool one police constable is provided for each 355 persons and in Sheffield for each 922 persons; and whether the Home Office advises any standard of strength for the police forces of large cities?
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§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe figures quoted by my hon. and gallant Friend are not comparable, the strength of the respective forces having been reckoned on a different basis in the two cases. Reckoned on the same basis, the disparity would not be nearly so great. The strength of each force is settled by the local police authority, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State. The Home Office has not laid down any fixed standard for the large cities, and I do not think it would be practicable to do so, on account of the great variety of local conditions.