§ 25. Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the current level of male recruitment into the police force.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesRecruitment, of men as well as women, remains good; but I could not be satisfied while there are substantial numbers of vacancies in some of the large, urban forces.
§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for improving recruitment to the police force.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesRecruitment to police forces is the responsibility of chief officers of police. My Department assists their local publicity efforts by advertising in the national Press, provision of recruiting literature, films and project materials for use in schools and exhibition equipment. New advertising material and literature coming into use now is designed to give further encouragement to young people with higher educational qualifications—including graduates—to join, and we are encouraging other special arrangements to stimulate those at universities and polytechnics to consider a police career.