§ 41 and 42. Mr. J. Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the population of the Metropolitan Police area in 1938 247W and 1963; what were the number of indictable offences known to the Metropolitan Police in 1938 and 1963; and what was the numerical strength of the Metropolitan Police in 1938 and 1963; (2) what the numerical strength of the Metropolitan Police should have been in 1963 in order to preserve the same ratio of police officers to the number of indictable offences as in 1938.
§ Mr. WoodhouseIn 1938 the population of the Metropolitan Police District was about 8.7 million, and 95,280 indictable offences were known to the Metropolitan police, whose male strength stood at 18,511. In 1963 the population was just under 8.2 million, the number of indictable offences was about 229,000 and the Metropolitan police strength stood at 18,022 men. If the 1938 ratio between police strength and indictable offences were to be preserved, the male strength of the Metropolitan police would need to be of the order of 44,500. But although the incidence of crime is naturally a relevant factor in determining the desirable strength of a police force, it is not the only one. My right hon. Friend accepts the assessment of the Commissioner of Police in his Annual Report for 1962 that the strength of the force is 5,000 or 6,000 below the minimum number required to give adequate patrol coverage.