§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with chief police officers on the subject of reductions in police expenditure; and, in particular, what replies and comments he made about cut-backs in police cadets, civilian aides and operational police equipment, including police cars.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers were told that I appreciated the difficulties which the reductions in expenditure had brought for the police, although the service had in fact been treated relatively favourably in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's review of public expenditure for 1977–78. Advice on the way in which these reductions might be achieved was given in the Home Office Circular of 30th November 1976, but I made it clear that the detailed implementation of the cuts was a matter for local decision.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, with regard to the Metropolitan Police District, he will publish his estimates of (a) the reduction in the number of police cadets over the next two financial years, (b) the reduction in the number of civilian aides and the transfer from operational police duties of uniformed officers to fill the gaps arising therefrom, (c) the approximate reduction of overtime working and the consequences for the pay of Metropolitan Police officers and (d) the reduction, if any, in the numbers of police cars whether by cuts in new purchases or by the non-replacement of older vehicles due to go out of service.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI understand that the Commissioner has not yet completed detailed planning to achieve the reductions in expenditure on civilian staff—including traffic wardens and cadets— required by Home Office Circular 191/ 1976. The circular does not itself require244W any reduction in overtime working; the Commissioner is currently reviewing the level of overtime in the force but he has not yet reached any conclusion. There will be no reduction in the number of vehicles in the Metropolitan Police District during 1977–78. No decisions have yet been reached on reductions required in 1978–79.