HC Deb 25 October 1989 vol 158 cc447-8W
Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the cost of running statutory police consultation committees for London boroughs in the past years(a) for Ealing borough and (b) for all those boroughs with a statutory police committee; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The cost of running the Ealing community and police consultative group in the 1988–89 financial year was £30,500.

Each group operates independently and levels of expenditure are affected by the amount of each group's activity, the nature and location of the borough and the degree of council support. In the case of Ealing, the majority party borough council has refused to take up its place on the group or provide any administrative support. The cost to the Metropolitan police fund has therefore to cover the cost of independent administrative support to the group.

The refusal of Ealing borough council—together with four other local authorities in London—to take part in the statutory process of police-community consultation is misconceived and irresponsible. I urge them to support arrangements which are playing an increasingly important role elsewhere in London and throughout England and Wales in involving local people in policing issues that concern them. Figures for the other consultative groups which come within the Metropolitan police district are as follows:

Figures for the 1988–89 financial year, rounded to the nearest £100
£
Barking and Dagenham 8,000
Barnet 19,200
Bexley 18,900
Brent 6,500
Bromley 2,000
Camden 7,900
Cheshunt 1600
Croydon 7,800
Enfield 3,800
Epping Forest 5,000
Epsom and Ewell 4,200
Esher 4,000
Greenwich 2,100
Hackney 2,700
Hammersmith and Fulham 22,000
Haringey 6,900
Harrow 10,700
Havering 400
Hertsmere 11,300
Hillingdon 6,300
Hounslow 10,000
Islington 15,000
Kensington and Chelsea 9,200
Kingston upon Thames 15,200
Lambeth 51,400
Lewisham 17,900
Merton 6,200
Newham 26,600
Redbridge 3,800
Reigate and Banstead 1200
Richmond upon Thames 12,000
Southwark 20,500
Spelthorne 11,900
Sutton 14,100
Tower Hamlets 23,000
Waltham Forest 10,000
Wandsworth 116,700
Westminster (includes Paddington, South Westminster, West End Central groups and Westminster-wide co-ordinating group 47,500
1 Estimated where final account not yet received or agreed.
2 Part of a year only. Group in its first year.

Note:

Figures also include costs of lay visitors panels where established.