§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how 247W many policemen were members of the special patrol group during each year since it was first established; how many persons they have, respectively, stopped or arrested during each of these years what percentage is the latter of the former for each year; and how many of those enrolled in the special patrol group carry firearms.
§ Mr. BrittanI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information requested is as follows:
Average strengths (all ranks) of the Special Patrol Group since its formation Year Strength 1965 97 1966 121 1967 123 1968 135 1969 135 1970 168 1971 170 1972 204 1973 204 1974 204 1975 204 1976 204 1977 202 1978 202 The present strength of the group is 195.
Stops and Arrests Year Stops Arrests 1965 * 396 1966 * 727 1967 * 1,057 1968 * 1,318 1969 * * 1970 * * 1971 * * 1972 16,340 3,142 1973 14,258 3,339 1974 13,001 3,262 1975 18,907 4,125 1976 19,862 4,032 1977 14,018 2,990 1978 16,265 4,166 Notes (a) * Records no longer available. (b) There is no practical method of separately identifying those arrests which result from stops, and comparison of the numbers of stops and arrests would therefore be misleading. Fifty-four members of the group are fully trained in the use of revolvers. Firearms are issued and carried only when the nature of the duty requires it.