HC Deb 07 November 1980 vol 991 c699W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often police support units of police forces have been used to deal with strikes and demonstrations; what training they receive; and what is the purpose of these units.

Mr. Brittan

Section 14 of the Police Act 1964 provides for one police force to assist another. Police support units (PSUs) are the practical means developed by the police to enable officers to be brought together in order to provide such assistance. Each PSU consists of 20–30 officers. Their training is the responsibility of individual chief officers of police, and there is no central record of this or of occasions when PSUs have been used.