HC Deb 01 November 1990 vol 178 cc733-4W
39. Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken to improve police efficiency.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Under the Police Act 1964 each police authority is responsible for providing an adequate and efficient police force, while my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has a general duty to promote efficiency in the service. In partnership with chief officers and police authorities, therefore, the Home Office is taking and encouraging action aimed at improving police efficiency, including:

  1. 1) encouraging civilianisation, which has released some 4,000 officers for operational duties in provincial forces since 1983–84, with a further 800 posts expected to be civilianised this year;
  2. 2) inspection of forces by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary and the identification and promulgation of "good practice";
  3. 3) a programme of efficiency scrutinies in forces, with 24 scrutinies in provincial forces completed or under-way to date;
  4. 4) action to follow up Audit Commission published reports on aspects of police work, and on local audits; and
  5. 5) a long-term research programme to improve methods of manpower allocation and develop better measures of police efficiency and effectiveness.