§ Mr. Peter Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the Metropolitan Police force was 20 per cent. undermanned at the end of 1975, he will increase spending on police recruitment; and what other measures he will take to bring the Metropolitan Police up to strength.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Metropolitan Police deficiency on 31st December 1975 was 20.3 per cent., and had fallen to 16.3 per cent. on 31st May 1976. Estimated expenditure on recruitment publicity by my Department and the Metropolitan Police during 1977–78 is over£ 100,000 higher in real terms than in 1976–77. I do not have details of the provision made by forces outside London for recruitment publicity.
31st December 1972 31st December 1973 31st December 1974 31st December 1975 31st December 1976 30th June 1977 Civilian Staff— Full time other than traffic wardens 9,574 9,629 10,416 10,439 10,439 10,371 Part time 3,814 3,707 3,570 3,361 3,247 3,290 Traffic wardens 2,055 1,870 1,791 1,830 1,805 1,668 Vehicles—Police Section— Cars, vans etc. 1,966 2,080 2,159 2,169 2,175 2,181 Motor cycles 449 342 381 381 385 390 Vehicles—Support Services— Cars, coaches, vans etc. including spare vehicles 871 855 958 1,008 1,020 1,016 Two Way Radios— Fitted to vehicles or river craft 2,120 2,318 2,550 2,664 2,903 3,363 Personal radios 6,315 6,460 6,500 6,780 7,403 7,957 Computers— Main frame* 4 4 4 4 3 3 Mini computers 2 2 3 3 7 11 *The main frame computers are shared with the Home Office.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the statement he is expecting to make on the withdrawal of pensions now being paid to the convicted police officers in the Drury-Humphreys pornography trial will be made to the House and before the House adjourns for the summer.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI shall not be in a position to reach a decision before the Summer Recess.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the salaries and ranks of the police officers examined and con-
146WWe shall continue to support chief officers in their endeavours to recruit up to authorised establishment.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed table of figures giving on 1st July 1977 the total number of Metropolitan Police civilian employees, traffic wardens, cars, vehicles, two-way radios, electronic aids, computers and any other labour-saving devices now in operation; and how these figures compare with the longest period on 1st July for each of the stated years.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesFigures in the form requested are not readily available and, except for the current year, it is not possible without disproportionate cost to provide totals other than as at 31st December. The figures which are available are given in the table below:
victed in the recent Drury-Humphreys trials about pornography and their pensions which they are now receiving.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe ranks of the 13 police officers convicted of offences on 22nd December 1976, 13th May 1977 and 7th July 1977 were as follows:
Commander … … 2 Chief Superintendent … … 1 Chief Inspector … … 1 Inspector … … 5 Sergeant … … 2 Constable … … 2 Six of these officers are currently in receipt of a pension. It is not the practice to disclose details of each individual case.
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§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state what happened in the case of the 59 police officers ranging from constable to commander who were not prosecuted in the Humphreys-Drury pornography trials; and of the 12 who resigned, and 28 who retired on pension, why this action was taken if they were guilty of no offence.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesAs I indicated in reply to my hon. Friend's Questions on 20th July—[Vol. 935, col. 5521—the officers who left the force did so voluntarily. The remainder of the officers against whom the Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to bring criminal proceedings are still serving in the force, with the exception of four who were found guilty in disciplinary proceedings and dismissed or required to resign, and two who are at present under suspension.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the ranks of the 13 police officers found guilty at the recent corruption trials; why 10 have been placed in open prisons; who these are; why only one is in a closed prison; whom he is; why the two who are waiting to be allocated prisons have not been so allocated; where they are at the moment; and whom these are.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe ranks of the 13 members or former members of the Metropolitan Police convicted during the recent corruption trials were as follows; two commanders, one chief superintendent, one chief inspector, five inspectors, two sergeants and two constables. Ten have been allocated to open prisons and one to a closed prison after assessment and classification under the normal procedures: the remaining two are still being assessed. It would be contrary to normal practice to identify the prisoners or their location.