§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what views have been expressed to him by chief officers of police about the level of staffing of police drug squads; and if he will consider reviewing the establishment of each force in order that such squads may be reinforced.
§ Mr. HurdThe discussions which chief officers have had with my right hon. and learned Friend on this subject have not been directed to the question of extra staff to increase the size of their drug squads. It is for the police authorities to fix the authorised establishment of forces, subject to the approval of the Home Secretary. Chief officers are aware of our view that increases in the number of officers deployed on a particular activity will not of 145W itself necessarily improve performance and that much can be done by way of establishing that the manpower resources already available are being deployed in the most effective and efficient way. Many chief officers are already taking steps to ensure that drugs squads are used to best effect by the development of a force strategy which makes greater use of beat officers to handle minor drugs offences and of the services of regional crime squads for trafficking offences. The Drugs Conference held last month by the Association of Chief Police Officers provided them with an opportunity to discuss how resources might best be deployed.