§ 26. Sir Harmar Nichollsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have left the Mid-Anglia Police Force in the last 12 months; how many have left forces under his jurisdiction in the country as a whole over the same period; and whether he is ascertaining the reasons for the present drift from the police service at a time when their rôle in society is especially important in view of the general increase in crime.
§ Mr. Callaghan47 police officers retired or resigned from the Mid-Anglia force during the year ending 31st August, compared with 5,274 throughout all forces in England and Wales. National wastage over that period, expressed as a percentage of total strength, was 5.8 per cent. compared with a figure of 5.3 per cent. in the calendar year 1967 and 6.1 per cent. in 1966. The causes of wastage are kept under review.