§ Mr. Smedley Crookeasked the Home Secretary whether, in carrying out the proposed experimental increase in the police motor patrols, he will consider the claims of suitable ex-service men for recruitment if they have been fully trained, instructed and capable of carrying out the work; whether he will consider the establishment of special recruiting conditions for this extended road patrol staff on a limited period of engagement and non-pensionable, and by so doing release constables for their normal police duties?
§ Sir J. SimonThe men to be employed on the proposed experiment will be experienced men already in the forces concerned: it would not be practicable to recruit for the purpose men who would have to be trained first in all the duties of constables and subsequently in the special duties of motor patrols. In recruiting the necessary additional men to fill the resulting vacancies for constables on ordinary police duties, the Chief Officers of Police concerned will pay due regard to the claims of ex-service men, but the ordinary conditions of recruitment must obviously apply. In the Metropolitan Police, where alone there is power to recruit constables on short-term engagements, some of the recruits will be engaged on that basis.