§ 55. Mr. Brian Parkynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain a report from the Chief Constable showing the full complement of the Bedfordshire Police Force, what the present shortfall is, and what measures he is taking to make up the numbers.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganNo county force is fully up to establishment: deficiencies range from 2 per cent. in the case of Cumbria to 31 per cent in the case of114W West Midlands. The Bedfordshire and Luton force is deficient of 137 police officers, men and women, against an establishment of 828. Arrangements have been made for forces with deficiencies of 10 per cent.-20 per cent., which includes Bedfordshire and Luton, to increase their strength by 1 per cent. during the current financial year: forces with a deficiency exceeding 20 per cent. may increase by 2 per cent.