§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen there are in current employment; by what percentage this number is less than the establishment; and how this compares with the situation in February 1974.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe figures for England and Wales are as follows:
Date Strength Deficiency Per cent. 28 February 1979 … 110.529* 7.1 28 February 1974 … 100,621 11.1 * Provisional.
§ Mr. Peter Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen and policewomen were employed by the police forces in Merseyside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Cumbria in February 1978;
(2) how many policemen and policewomen resigned from the police forces in Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Cumbria prior to their retirement in 1978;
(3) how many policemen and policewomen were recruited to the police forces in Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Cumbria in 1978.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe figures are as follows:
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§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total strength of the Metropolitan Police at 31 January 1974 and at 31 January 1979.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees20,775 and 22,077 respectively.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the shortfall in police manpower in the Metropolitan Police at the latest available date, by station district.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe deficiency in the establishment of each district of the Metropolitan Police on 25 March was as follows:
District Deficiency Airport 160 A 178 B 128 C 238 D 254 E 295 F 115 G 92 H 131 J 282 K 243 L 76 M 258 N 158 P 178 Q 204 R 245 S 278 T 272 V 210 W 155 X 167 Y 217 Z 196
§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proposals he has for increasing the number of local police stations and for the establishment of local police call points in shopping and residential areas;
(2) what steps he proposes to take to further encourage police authorities to increase the number of policemen on the beat.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe method of policing and the deployment of police officers is an operational responsibility of the chief officer of each police force, and not of the Home Secretary. Chief officers attach great importance to increasing the effective presence and availability of police officers on the streets and756W in contact with the community. My policy of strengthening the police service is designed to encourage these priorities.