§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has reached on the recommendations of the internal review of Metropolitan Police Force structure.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Commissioner, who has kept in close touch with me throughout the review, has decided not to proceed with the main recommendation of the review, initiated in 1976, for the reorganisation of the force into eight large area commands. The Commissioner has concluded, and I agree, that the upheaval such a major reorganisation would cause at this difficult time would be
400Wprosecutions following arrests of persons under 18 years of age charged with offences involving physical violence; and if he will classify these figures according to the offence.
§ Mr. JohnInformation is not readily available separately on persons tried following arrest. The readily available information relates to persons under 17 years of age tried following arrest or after being summonsed, and is as follows:
out of proportion to any benefit it might bring.
The Commissioner proposes to make some organisational changes at headquarters as a result of the review, and further studies are to be carried out into certain other matters, including local policing arrangements. Where appropriate, these will take place in consultation with those concerned, including the police and civil staff representative organisations and the local authorities in the Metropolitan Police District.
The Commissioner is informing the local authorities and his force today of his conclusion on the review.