§ Mr. Channonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain a report from the Chief Constable regarding the shortage of police officers in the Essex and Southend-on-Sea Police Force, and the steps he is taking to bring this force up to strength.
§ Mr. CallaghanI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas) on 26th March. The recruitment of police officers and civilians is the responsibility of individual police authorities and chief officers of police.—[Vol. 798, c. 485.]