§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the strength of the special patrol group in each of the last five years; and how many officers have left in each quarter, broken down as between resignation, dismissal and dismissal after disciplinary proceedings respectively.
§ Mr. BrittanI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis 3W that the established strength of the special patrol group has remained at 204 throughout the last five years. The following table shows the number of officers leaving the group following resignation from the force. The single case of dismissal from the force followed conviction for a motoring offence committed while off duty. Officers also leave the group on transfer to other parts of the force.
(a) Resignation (b) Dismissal from force 1975— 1st Quarter 2 — 2nd Quarter — — 3rd Quarter — — 4th Quarter 2 — 1976— 1st Quarter 2 — 2nd Quarter 2 1 3rd Quarter 2 — 4th Quarter — — 1977— 1st Quarter 2 — 2nd Quarter 1 — 3rd Quarter 1 — 4th Quarter 2 — 1978— 1st Quarter 2 — 2nd Quarter — — 3rd Quarter 2 — 4th Quarter — — 1979— 1st Quarter 1 — 2nd Quarter — — 3rd Quarter 2 —