§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current strength of the Metropolitan police and the S division, respectively; and how these figures compare with each of the last five years.
§ Mr. HurdThe information requested is as follows:
Metropolitan police—number of officers at 31 May Metropolitan police 'S' district 1979 22,306 610 1980 22,853 607 1981 24,339 662 1982 25,765 697 1983 26,479 699 1984 26,784 724
§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the serious crimes recorded in the Metropolitan police S district in 1983 compared with those committed in 1982.
§ Mr. HurdI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the number of notifiable offences recorded by the police in S district—Barnet and Hertsmere — was 20,000 in 1983 compared with 20,900 in 1982.