§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Prime Minister if, further to her answer to the right hon. Member for Islwyn (Mr. Kinnock) on 14 March, Official Report, column 432, football hooliganism is to be tackled by way of increased numbers of police and increased equipment, she will indicate by how many and where Her Majesty's Government intend to increase police numbers and what equipment is to be provided, to whom and at what cost.
§ The Prime MinisterI said no such thing. We have greatly strengthened the police service—on 28 February there were 9,286 more police officers in England and Wales than in May 1979—so that more officers are available for chief constables to deploy as required. Football hooliganism has to be tackled both by the football authorities and by the police and the courts. In his pursuant reply on 4 April at columns756–57 to a question by the hon. Member for Barnsley, East (Mr. Patchett), my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport set out the substantial package of new measures which are being taken, following my meeting with the football authorities on 1 April. These measures include steps to extend the powers of the courts and the police and discussions with the police about improvements in their effectiveness in dealing with football violence. So far as equipment is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Amess) on 4 April, at column 723.