HC Deb 17 November 1986 vol 105 cc24-6W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions, in each year since 1979, he used his powers to direct the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis under section 1 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1829 for the efficient administration of the police; to what purpose; and to what effect.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Neither my right hon. Friend nor his two immediate predecessors have found it necessary to exercise their powers under section 1 by issuing specific, formal directions to the Commissioner. But the finance and manpower code, which came fully into operation on 1 July this year, contains general provisions about the limits of the Commissioner's delegated authority on certain manpower and personnel matters. Beyond that, there have been regular discussions with the Commissioner of the day in which our views on matters of policing policy have been made clear. Since 1982, the Commissioner has set out his plans for the year ahead in a strategy report, which has required our approval.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan police force orders and regulations have been issued in each year since 1979, broken down by month and subject.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The number of items in the Metropolitan police orders in each month from January 1979 to October 1986 are set out in table A. A complete list of the subjects of the orders is not readily available and

Table A
Number of Metropolitan Police Orders issued between 5 January 1979 and 31 October 1986 inclusive
1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986
January 151 188 190 167 193 182 165 182
February 160 188 169 180 178 173 172 176
March 188 195 194 195 222 204 224 161
April 176 179 175 204 191 173 199 164
May 166 195 176 157 163 135 184 191
June 186 177 197 171 190 210 162 153
July 163 196 186 182 186 169 164 167
August 160 203 197 163 182 226 199 201
September 153 226 182 168 190 166 183 185
October 199 195 197 200 180 178 185 165
November 156 169 181 177 188 194 190 —
December 176 194 165 170 189 157 164 —
Total 2,034 2,305 2,209 2,134 2,252 2,167 2,191 1,745

Table B

Metropolitan Police Orders, May 1983 — Summary of Contents

  • Accounts
  • Allowances
  • Aviation Security Act 1982
  • Bail (persons reporting on bail)
  • Branch Boards
  • Cadets
  • Car pounds
  • Colorado Beetle
  • Commendations and Awards
  • Competitions (for children)
  • Courts
  • Crime
  • Deputy Assistant Commissioners (appointments and retirement)
  • Detention Centres
  • Dogs
  • Drivers (records and enquiries to DVLC)
  • Elections (General Election of 9 June)
  • Examinations
  • First Aid
  • Flags
  • Forms
  • General Orders
  • Holidays (Bank Holiday arrangements)
  • Income Tax
  • Instruction Book (amendments)
  • Medical Services and sick police
  • Memoranda (cancellation)
  • Metropolitan Police Directory (amendments)
  • Metropolitan Police Office (staff notices)
  • Motor vehicles (wheel clamps)
  • Motor vehicles, police (warning lights)
  • Pay
  • Peel Centre Library
  • Process (service of process)
  • Promotion
  • Radio programme of interest
  • Sponsored Publications Committee

could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. For the purposes of illustration, the subjects covered by orders issued in May 1983 are shown in table B.

  • Stationery
  • Stone's Justices' Manual
  • Telephones (new numbers)
  • Traffic
  • Training
  • Volunteers for duty in various posts and organisations
  • Witness statements

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the current administrative procedure whereby Metropolitan police force orders and regulations are approved;

(2) what areas are covered by the Metropolitan police force orders and regulations.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that police orders are usually issued twice weekly. They are approved by the senior police officers responsible for the items included in the orders which cover a wide range of subjects concerned with the management of the force and policing practices. Standing orders for the force are contained in general orders and regulations, which deal with administration, finance and supplies, crime, prisoners, courts, traffic, public transport, technical services and other police duties. Amendments to the standing orders are approved by the police department of the Home Office on my behalf under section 5 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1829. Such amendments are promulgated in police orders.