§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there are in the London borough of Newham of West Indian origin; what their ranks are; and how long it is expected to take to place the police force in Newham on the same percentage basis as the local population so far as manning by ethnic groups is concerned.
§ Mr. WhitelawAs I said in reply to a question from the hon. Member on 21 December—[Vol. 976, c. 426]—I understand from the Commissioner that there are two officers of West Indian origin serving in those divisions of the Metropolitan Police district which contain the London borough of Newham. Both are constables. The Commissioner is, with my support, anxious to encourage the recruitment to his force of members of the ethnic minorities. Their allocation within the Metropolitan Police district is a matter for the Commissioner.