§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what restrictions have been imposed upon working overtime on Metropolitan police officers in each year since 1979; what effect such restrictions have had upon the amount of crime being investigated or not investigated, categorised in the most convenient form; and what effect such restrictions have upon individual police officers' inquiries and upon policing as a whole;
(2) if he will make a statement about the retirement of police officers from the Metropolitan police; what is the average length of service of a police officer of the rank of sergeant or below; and how many are serving with a length of service of (a) two years, (b) between two and three years, (c) between three and four years, (d) between four and five years, (e) between five and 10 years, (f) between 10 and 15 years, (g) between 15 and 20 years and (h) over 20 years;
(3) what steps he has taken to seek to prevent the premature retirement of Metropolitan police officers; what effect such retirement has had upon effective and efficient policing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI shall reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much time is devoted by Metropolitan police officers to monitoring the case of offenders or suspects; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawIt is not possible to quantify the time spent by Metropolitan police officers on monitoring the care of persons in police custody.
179WThe responsibilites attached to the new post of custody officer includes the care and welfare of offenders and suspects in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and the codes of practice issued under it. The Commissioner is conscious of the need to ensure the well being of persons held in police custody and I understand that he is generally satisfied with the way the new procedures are working.