§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he considers that the present establishment level of the Metropolitan Police is satisfactory; and when the establishment figure was created.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe present establishment is 26,628, having been increased by 573 when the Metropolitan Police assumed responsibility for policing Heathrow Airport in November 1974. The strength of the force on 31st August was 4,596 below this figure, and although recruitment is going well we do not consider that a review of the establishment would serve any useful purpose at this stage.
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§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the level of police recruitment in the Metropolitan Police for each month of 1976.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe information is as follows:
1976 Recruitment Wastage Net gain in strength January … 145 100 42 February … 151 72 84 March … 148 78 70 April … 159 67 86 May … 199 101 88 June … 190 89 119 July … 318 144 183 August … 236 108 133 TOTAL … 1,546 759 805