§ 30. Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police recruitment.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on changes in police manpower and morale in recent months.
§ Mr. BrittanTotal strength of the police service in England and Wales on 31 October 1979 was 112,883, a gain of 5,084 since the Edmund-Davies committee report was published. The Metropolitan Police strength was 22,468, a gain of 857 since the report, but still substantially below establishment. Outside London, many forces are close to establishment, and my right hon. Friend has approved some increases for the current financial year. I am in no doubt that implementation of the reports on pay and negotiating machinery has strengthened the high morale of the service.