§ Mr. Partridgeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants are now employed in the Metropolitan Police Department; and what was the corresponding number immediately prior to September, 1939.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerOn 31st October, 1960 there were 6,102 civil staff employed in the Commissioner's and Receiver's Offices: this total includes 1,496 part-time school crossing patrols and telephonists. On 31st December, 1939—the nearest date to September, 1939 for which figures are readily available—the total of the civil staff was 2,616.
§ Mr. Partridgeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers on the strength of the Metropolitan Police Department have been made available for regular police duties in consequence of the employment of civil servants in that department.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerAbout 730 officers have been so released, but no precise calculation is possible. In addition, the employment of civil staff has enabled large numbers of police officers to devote more of their time to the prevention and detection of crime.