§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen and policewomen the Metropolitan Police are at present below strength; and what proportion of applicants was accepted in the past year.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsOn 29th January, the Metropolitan Police Force was below establishment by 6,187 men and 124 women.
During 1966, 1,129 men were accepted for appointment, representing 27.7 per cent. of the 4,079 applications received. 114 women were accepted, representing 43.3 per cent. of the 263 applications received.
§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many coloured applicants have tried to join the Metropolitan Police in the past year; how many have been accepted; and what were the reasons for rejection in each case.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that during 1966 36 coloured persons, none of whom was appointed, applied to join the Metropolitan Police.
Five were summoned for interview, but four failed to attend and the other, after 279W interview, was rejected as being below the general standard required. Of the 31 who were not called for interview, 17 were recent arrivals in this country; seven were of poor education; 5 were rejected on medical grounds; one was below the minimum height standard; and one was above the maximum age limit. All the applicants were male.
These results are disappointing. I attach importance to the recruitment of suitably qualified coloured policemen, and hope that a number will come forward in the near future.