§ Mr. Beaneyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT his reply to the representations of the Earby Urban District Council on matters of vandalism, on measures for its prevention and on police establishments, details of which have been sent to him.
§ Mr. Elystan Morgan:The reply, dated 25th March, was as follows:
The Home Secretary has asked me to thank you for your letter of 10th March expressing your Council's concern about vandalism and crime, and its views on police pay. The Home Secretary is of course very much aware of the issues involved, and attaches the utmost importance to police manpower.With regard to pay, the Police Council for Great Britain is the negotiating body, with equal representation of police officers and of police authorities. The Council is very conscious of the importance of adequate levels of pay in meeting the problems of recruitment and wastage and in compensating 61W the police officer for the responsibilities and the drawbacks of police life. The recent increase of 84½ per cent. from 1st January, 1970, is a special interim award and the Council will shortly begin its normal biennial review of police pay. Any award made as a result of this review will be effective from 1st September, 1970.The Home Secretary has also authorised a considerable increase in recruitment publicity, and hopes that this, together with higher scales of pay, will lead to a substantial increase in the strength of the service.