§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is satisfied with the local consultation arrangements between the community and the police as recommended under his Department's circular 54/1982; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will obtain from each police authority a list of all local police consultative groups established and operating within their area, the date established and the projected costs involved; and if he will give similar information for the Metropolitan police area.
§ Mr. HurdEncouraging progress has been made in most police areas in establishing or extending arrangements for consultation between the police and the public. We are clear about the need for arrangements of this kind, and the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill now before the House requires them to be made. We conducted a comprehensive review in January of the progress made in provincial forces in response to the guidance issued in June last year and we have no plans for a further review at this stage. Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary pay particular attention to this matter during their annual inspections of each force. In the Metropolitan police district, consultation groups have been established since the beginning of 1982 in the following boroughs and districts.
Borough Date of Inaugural Meeting Barking and Dagenham May 1983 Ealing February 1983 Enfield October 1983 Epping Forest July 1983 Epsom and Ewell December 1982 Hammersmith and Fulham July 1983 Harrow November 1982 Havering July 1983 Hertsmere February 1983 Hillingdon November 1982 Hounslow February 1982 Kingston September 1982 Lambeth March 1982 Merton December 1982 Reigate and Banstead September 1983 Richmond April 1983 Sutton October 1982 Waltham Forest June 1983 Wandsworth September 1983 Westminster September 1983 Detailed information about costs in each case is not available centrally.