§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the 38 police forces that permit police officers to wear beards, and the two or more who do not, indicating in each case the conditions required to be observed by officers wearing beards;
522W(2) if he will list the seven police forces which require police officers growing beards to do so only on night duty, or during periods of annual leave;
(3) if he will name the two police forces which allow police officers to wear beards provided they are not of certain types, for example, Chinese beards.
§ Dr. SummerskillI regard this as a matter for local discretion.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from chief police officers, collectively through the Association of Chief Police Officers and individually, about the effect of cuts in police budgets on police manpower, cadet training, civilian aides, traffic wardens, equipment and vehicle mileage.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI have been informed by the Association of Chief Police Officers of its concern at limitations on police recruitment below authorised establishments which are being required by some police authorities and restrictions on civilian staff and some services necessitated by reductions in expenditure on the police service. I have arranged to meet the officers of the association to discuss the position. Representations on the same lines have also been received from three individual chief officers.