§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient period of time, the number of police entering into service in the London borough of Newham who themselves or their parents were born in the former British Colonial and Commonwealth countries; and whether he will give details of the countries in which these police and their parents were born.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe information is not available in the form requested, but I understand from the Commissioner that there are two officers of West Indian origin stationed within the London borough of Newham.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange to provide as much detailed information as may be readily available, showing for the London borough of Newham the total number of police, man power, cars, panda cars, motor cycles, two-way radios, the increase or shortfall in such men and equipment over the years, to what extent manpower of police on the beat has increased or decreased over this period of time and the action that has been taken to increase men on the beat.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe London borough of Newham comprises two divisions of K district of the Metropolitan Police. I understand from the Commissioner that its police officer strength is 479, and that 33 police vehicles—including 13 unit beat cars—and 130 personal radios are in use. In addition, there are vehicles used in traffic policing in a larger area which includes these divisions. Police officer strength is slightly lower than two years ago but, in common with the rest of the force area, the district will benefit from recent improvements in recruitment. The Commissioner attaches high priority to measures to make optimum use of available manpower.