§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has sponsored or has available the results of any research work on (a) the effect that the number of beat policemen has upon the level of crime and (b) the level of expenditure required to ensure the success of such a policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MayhewThe Department has sponsored research on the effect that the number of beat police officers has upon the level of crime and has available to it the results of a large number of studies, chiefly conducted in the United States. A review of research evaluating the effectiveness of various methods of policing, including beat policing, has been published as No. 67 in the Home Office research studies series under the title "Crime Control and the Police". A copy of this report has been placed in the Library of the House. No assessment can be made nationally of expenditure needed to ensure the success of any one policing method. We are supporting chief officers in their efforts to deploy their officers to maximum effect; but policing methods will necessarily vary according to local needs and circumstances.