§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors, other than population, determine Metropolitan police officer numbers per division. [17429]
§ Mr. MacleanThe deployment of manpower within the Metropolitan police district is a matter for the commissioner. I understand, however, that the allocation of officers to divisions takes account of, among other things, the number of crimes reported, calls for assistance, arrests, traffic accidents and incidents of disorder. In addition, officers in charge of divisional operational command units have some flexibility within their overall budget to decide on the mix of police officers, civil staff and other resources which will best meet local policing needs.
§ Mr. BoothTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent reports by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary on Metropolitan police areas 3 and 4. [18765]
627W
§ Mr. HowardYes. I have today placed in the Library a note of the recommendations from these reports, together with the commissioner's responses and my responses, which take into account the advice I have received from the Metropolitan Police Committee.