§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the procedure to be followed by a police officer in the Metropolitan Police force who is seeking a transfer from one division to another.
§ Mr. CarlisleHe has to make a written application to the officer in charge of the division in which he is currently serving.
§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the specific reasons given by police officers who have resigned from the Metropolitan Police in the last 12 months, and did so on the grounds of dissatisfaction with duties or conditions of service.
§ Mr. CarlisleFrom 5th December 1971 to 3rd December 1972, 609 police officers resigned voluntarily from the force. The recorded reason given by 54 of them was dissatisfaction with hours, duties or conditions of service. The other reasons recorded were: to join an overseas police force, 17; pay, two; domestic reasons, 123W 98; to emigrate, 47; unsuited to police work, 131; to take up other employment, 184; allowed to resign (discipline) 51; miscellaneous, 25.
§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what canteen facilities exist for Metropolitan Police officers on night duties, and who wish to be provided with a hot meal.
§ Mr. CarlisleEleven canteens are open throughout the 24 hours. There are self-cooking facilities at all stations or section houses which do not have a 24-hour canteen service.
§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average number of hours worked by a police officer in the Metropolitan Police force.
§ Mr. Carlisle50.6 a week, on the basis of a sample survey.
§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of days off per month to which a police officer in the Metropolitan Police force is entitled.
§ Mr. CarlislePolice officers below the rank of superintendent are entitled, so far as the exigencies of duty permit, to a day's leave on each public holiday and two rest days in respect of each week. Because the force is short of men, the Commissioner of Police requires members of the force to work three of the eight rest days in each four-week period. Payment is made at overtime rates for the rest days worked.
§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis as to what time the staff canteen in police section houses in the Metropolitan Police area opens for the provision of meals for officers who are on early morning duty.
§ Mr. CarlisleOf the 29 section houses five have canteens that are open throughout the 24 hours, seven canteens that are open at 7 a.m., two at 7.30 a.m. and 15 at 8 a.m.
Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how 124W many police officers of the rank of Sergeant or above have left the Metropolitan Police so far this year before completing 25 years service; and how this compares with the equivalent figures for 1970 and 1971.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe figures are:
1970 to 29th November 44 1971 to 28th November 29 1972 to 26th November 68