§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a police authority can be expected to be formed for the new police force covering Tyne, Wear and Northumberland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarlisleMy right hon. Friend hopes to receive confirmation before the end of this month that both the new county councils concerned agree on the terms of a police amalgamation scheme for the new counties of Tyne and Wear and of Northumberland. He will then be in a position to make on order approving the scheme. As soon as this has been done the way will be clear for the new police authority to meet.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a chief constable designate can be expected to be appointed for the new police force covering Tyne, Wear and Northumberland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarlisleI hope that the new police authority will be able to meet shortly to make the appointment, which will be subject to my right hon. Friend's approval in the usual way.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have so far been made for the Police Federation's Guardian Board for the area of the new police force covering Tyne, Wear and Northumberland to be consulted on conditions to be applied in the new force area; if he is satisfied with these arrangements; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. CarlisleThe Guardian Board is represented on all the working parties set up to plan the new force, and has played a full part in their consultations. I see no reason why decisions which are outstanding on certain points should not be reached quite soon.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent Her Majesty's Government's present policy on determining establishments for the reorganised police forces coming into being in April 1974 will affect future reviews of police establishments; at what stage the principles governing normal reviews of establishments will be applied in the reorganised forces; if he will urgently consult the Police Federation on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe existing arrangements for regular review of force establishments every three to five years will be maintained. For those forces affected only slightly or not at all by reorganisation I would expect the existing cycle of reviews to continue. For those forces substantially affected I would expect the establishment operating from 1st April 1974 to be reviewed as soon as sufficient experience of policing the new area is available, and the normal cycle of reviews to operate thereafter. My right hon. Friend is always willing to consider representations from the Police Federation.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces have, and which police forces have not, reviewed their establishments within the last two years; and to what extent the establishment has been increased in each particular case.
§ Mr. CarlisleFollowing is a list of the forces where as the result of either a comprehensive review or of an adjustment the total number of police officers on the establishment has increased by 10 or more:
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Force Increase Bradford 71 Bristol 81 Cheshire 36 Cumbria 58 Derby County and Borough 43 Devon and Cornwall 151 Dorset and Bournemouth 19 Durham 116
Force Increase Dyfed Powys 71 Essex and Southend-on-Sea 24 Gloucestershire 154 Gwent 62 Gwynned 100 Hampshire 150 Hertfordshire 72 Kent 77 Kingston-upon-Hull 35 Lancashire 99 Leeds City 33 Leicester and Rutland 189 Lincolnshire 154 Manchester and Salford 53 Mid-Anglia 83 Norfolk 64 Northumberland 122 Nottinghamshire 129 South Wales 267 Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent 219 Suffolk 46 Surrey 16 Sussex 161 Teesside 145 York and N.E. Yorkshire 10 In some cases further changes are under consideration.
There have been changes as a result of either a comprehensive review or of an adjustment in all police forces in England and Wales except for Somerset and Bath and Northampton and County. Proposals for the establishment of the new Avon and Somerset force are under consideration and the result of the current review of the Northampton and County force will be incorporated in the establishment of the new Northamptonshire force to be created on 1st April 1974.