§ Mr. Michael Cocksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which police authorities have full-time drug squads of more than two men; and what was the date of their establishment;
(2) which police authorities have no officers working full time on detecting drug offences.
§ Mr. SharplesIn the City of London, West Mercia and Wiltshire police forces, detectives are employed as necessary, and not usually full time, on drugs work. In every other police force in England and Wales, there is a full-time drug squad of more than two men. The squads in the Cheshire, Cumbria, Kingston upon Hull, Liverpool and Bootle, Staffordshire and West Midlands police forces were set up in 1971; those of the Dyfed-Powys, Gwynedd and Lincolnshire forces in 1970; and those of other police forces, including parts of amalgamated forces, in 1969 or earlier.