§ Sir Eldon Griffiths asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the establishments of forces from which officers are to be seconded to the national drugs co-ordinating units are to be increased so as to enable additional officers to be recruited to replace them;
§ (2) if the police officers being seconded to the national drugs unit under the command of Mr. Colin Hewitt are to be placed on central service.
§ Mr. Giles ShawFor the period of their service in the national drugs intelligence unit (NDIU), provincial officers are seconded to the Metropolitan police. They do not remain on the strength of their home force and chief officers providing officers to NDIU may replace them for the duration of that secondment; there is thus no need for any increase in establishment. NDIU is funded as a common police service.
This reply also provides information pursuant to my reply of 13 December to a question from my hon. Friend about police officers being seconded to the NDIU.
Mr. Mason asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in establishing a new national drugs intelligence unit and the creation of drug wings within regional crime squads; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe national drugs intelligence unit, superceding the central drugs intelligence unit, came formally into existence on 1 November. It currently consists of 25 officers drawn from provincial forces as well as from the Metropolitan police together with five officers from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and 16 civilian staff.
My right hon. Friend has indicated to police authorities his readiness to approve appropriate increases in establishments of regional crime squads, to make provision for drugs wings, which they are currently considering.
Mr. Mason asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated extra annual expenditure to the South Yorkshire police committee and the metropolitan council in the funding of the new drug wings within regional crime squads; to what extent this will be nationally funded; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe precise arrangements for the funding of each regional crime squad, including drugs wings, are a matter for its constituent police authorities. Eligible expenditure will rank for 50 per cent. police grant from the Home Office in the usual way.
Mr. Mason asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will meet a delegation from the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss the operational and financial implications of establishing drug 7W wings within each regional crime squad and the possibilities of national funding; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawAs the then Home Secretary indicated, we are ready to approve requests for increases in regional crime squad establishments necessary to create drugs wings. The extra expenditure involved will qualify for 50 per cent. police grant from the Home Office in the usual way. Moreover, specific provision has been made in police grant related expenditure to cover local authority expenditure for this purpose.
The addition of drugs wings will not change the operational or other arrangements as regards the control of regional crime squads.
Officials are already in touch with the AMA, and my right hon. Friend is ready to consider any particular issues which it may wish to raise: but we hope that police authorities will play their part in the tripartite system by recognising in financial provision the priority which the Government attaches to the investigation of drugs offences.