§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the progress made by the Metropolitan Police in getting police back on the beat both in general and in the areas with known large immigrant populations in particular, and when the Commissioner of Police anticipates the roads and streets of areas such as Newham will be adequately policed on the beat.
§ Mr. BrittanThe Commissioner has recently completed a review of local policing arrangements designed to make more effective use of police officers in all parts of the Metropolitan Police district, in particular by redeploying officers from administrative duties. But the force is still nearly 4,000 officers below establishment, and it is likely to be some years before this is reached.