§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list his powers with regard to the co-ordination of police operations involving officers from different forces.
§ Mr. HurdThe relevant power is in subsection (2) of section 14 of the Police Act 1964, which refers to subsection (1). The two subsections provide as follows
14(1) The chief officer of police of any police force may, on the application of the chief officer of police of any other police force, provide constables or other assistance for the purpose of enabling the other force to meet any special demand on its resources.(2) if it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient in the interests of public safety or order that any police force should be reinforced or should receive other assistance for the purpose of enabling it to meet any special demand on its resources, and that satisfactory arrangements under subsection (1) above cannot be made, or cannot be made in time, he may direct the chief officer of police of any police force to provide such constables or other assistance for that purpose as may be specified in the direction.There is no record of any direction under subsection (2) having been made.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers about the number of staff engaged in running the co-ordination centre for police operations during the miners' strike.
§ Mr. HurdThe president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, colleagues in the association and one of her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary are at the national reporting centre, which is co-ordinating responses to requests for assistance from chief officers of police in England and Wales, at various times. During the daytime, 51W they have the help at the centre of eight police officers and two civilian staff. Overnight, the staffing is at the same or a lower level.