HC Deb 22 January 1948 vol 446 cc59-60W
88. Mr. Roland Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the police forces are below establishment; and what steps he is taking to stimulate recruiting so as to bring the police forces up to strength.

Mr. Ede

The police forces of England and Wales were on 31st December, 1947, 13,733 short of the authorised establishment. The rate of recruitment depends to some extent on local factors, but amongst the measures to stimulate recruitment which have been or are being undertaken on a national scale are a national advertising campaign and the dispatch of recruiting missions to the Fighting Services in various parts of the world and, more recently, a mission to the Palestine police.