§ 85. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made in increasing the number of acceptable recruits to the Metropolitan Police service; what are the main reasons for rejecting applicants 83W to the force; how many members of the force have been dismissed or prosecuted for serious offences; and what was the approximate average period of service of the offenders before they were so dismissed or charged.
§ Mr. R. A. Butler:Since the announcement of increased pay for police constables, there has been a substantial increase in the number of applications to join the Metropolitan Police. Of those applicants who have so far attended for examination, rather more than a quarter were found to be below the required medical standards, and nearly one half were rejected as being unsuitable on educational or other grounds.
During the three years 1958 to 1960, 58 officers were dismissed or required to resign from the Metropolitan Police, and of these 33 had been convicted of serious offences. The average length of service of these officers was six years.