§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the education authorities within the Metropolitan police area in which some or all schools ban visits from the police;
(2) if he will make a statement on the implications for the work of the Metropolitan police of the banning of police visits by certain schools in London;
(3) what information the Metropolitan police have as to the number of schools within their area at which police visits are banned.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI am advised by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that there are 21 schools, all within the area of the Inner London education authority, which refuse to allow an educational input by the police. In addition to establishing good relationships with young people, the police seek to make children at the primary level aware of dangers—on the roads, canals, rivers and railway lines and of going off with strangers. At the next stage the dangers of drugs and solvent misuse and offensive weapons, as well as advice on self protection, feature in the valuable exchanges. The development of a better understanding of the role and function of the police is an important element of the commissioner's strategy for the improvements of relations between the forces and community in general. I fully share the commissioner's concern at the lack of co-operation of a few schools in promoting this objective.