§ Mr. John Pageasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how many hours on average per week police overtime is expected to be reduced in the Metropolitan Police District; whether he considers the overtime previously 628W worked has been unnecessary; and by how much he expects the figures for undetected crime to increase.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Commissioner has recently decided to introduce a new system for the control of overtime worked in the Metropolitan Police. The effect of this will be to maintain the total financial provision for overtime in the force at the same level in 1977–78 as it was in 1976–77. While it is not possible to say precisely what effect these new controls will have on the number of hours overtime worked by individual officers, I understand that, on average, any effect could be small. The Commissioner does not intend that the new procedures should inhibit the operational needs of the force in any way.
§ Mr. John Pageasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will withdraw his directive to reduce overtime worked by the Metropolitan Police;
(2) if he will publish the direction on the reduction of police overtime which he has issued to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe general considerations affecting police expenditure are set out in Home Office Circular 191/1976 of 13th November 1976, a copy of which is in the Library. I have not issued any direction that overtime levels in the Metropolitan Police should be reduced.