asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the recent statement by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning corrupt detectives applies to those engaged in the investigations into pornography; and when investigations into this and the Humphrey and ex-Commander Drury association will be completed.
The Commissioner assures me that he has made no statement intended to prejudge the outcome of investigations not yet completed. On the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 11th February to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett).—[Vol. 886, c. 77.]
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest stated period of time, or on an annual or monthly basis, the total number of Metropolitan Police, civilian employees, cars and other aids, such as two-way radio, and the number of population in the Metropolitan Police area at each of the stated dates; and if he will make a statement on how the relationship of manpower, modern aids and population is assessed in determining the extent of any manpower shortage.
The manpower requirements of the Metropolitan Police are assessed in the light of such factors as the type and amount of crime, the nature, size and population of the Metropolitan Police District, the amount and density of traffic, and the extent of civilian and other forms of support. It remains our view that every effort should continue to be made to increase the strength of the Metropolitan Police. Precise information about aids other than vehicles and radios
| As at 31st December: | ||||||||||
| 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | |||||
| Policemen | … | … | … | … | 18,012 | 17,951 | 18,201 | 18,699 | 19,451 | 19,896 |
| Policewomen | … | … | … | 468 | 463 | 479 | 493 | 545 | 562 | |
| Traffic wardens | … | … | … | 429 | 425 | 463 | 702 | 1,257 | 1,221 | |
| Full-time general administration and support staff | … | … | 5,488 | 5,706 | 6,063 | 6,480 | 7,224 | 6,092* | ||
| Number of cars | … | … | … | 972 | 946 | 973 | 1,037 | 1,187 | 1,613 | |
| Total all vehicles (including vans and motor cycles) | … | … | 2,328 | 2,588 | 2,639 | 2,883 | 2,913 | 3,071 | ||
| Number of personal radios | … | — | 23 | 120 | 370 | 2,394 | 4,920 | |||
| Number of mobilefone radios | … | 886 | 1,045 | 1,237 | 1,557 | 1,784 | 2,065 | |||
| Population in 000's | … | … | 8,168 | 8,182 | 8,376 | 8,389 | 8,360 | 8,251 | ||
| As at 31st December: | ||||||||||
| 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | |||||
| Policemen | … | … | … | … | 20,096 | 20,442 | 20,724 | 20,647 | 20,153 | 20,127‡ |
| Policewomen | … | … | … | 586 | 615 | 630 | 657 | 630 | 723‡ | |
| Traffic wardens | … | … | … | 1,394 | 1,585 | 1,966 | 2,055 | 1,870 | 1,791 | |
| Full-time general administration and support staff | … | … | 8,481 | 4,805† | 5,327 | 5,708 | 5,760 | 6,581 | ||
| Number of cars | … | … | … | 1,651 | 1,748 | 1,871 | 2,021 | 1,981 | 1,885 | |
| Total all vehicles (including vans and motor cycles) | … | … | 3,173 | 3,266 | 3,262 | 3,254 | 3,365 | 3,498 | ||
| Number of personal radios | … | 5,922 | 6,472 | 6,472 | 6,513 | 6,624 | 6,500 | |||
| Number of mobilefone radios | … | 2,457 | 2,808 | 2,816 | 2,856 | 3,530 | 3,536 | |||
| Population in 000's | … | … | 8,195 | 8,104 | 7,908 | 7,845 | 7,768 | 7,724 § | ||
| * Figures for 1968 and earlier were calculated on a different basis from and are not strictly comparable with those for 1969. | ||||||||||
| † Before 1970 these figures include professional and industrial grades and part-time staff. | ||||||||||
| ‡ These figures include officers transferred to the Metropolitan Police from the British Airports Authority Constabulary at Heathrow. | ||||||||||
| § At 31st October 1974. | ||||||||||