Metropolitan Police

Mr. Scott

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with present levels of recruitment into the Metropolitan Police; and if he will make a statement.

It is the high rate of wastage rather than low recruitment that has been the main cause of recent manpower difficulties. The strength of the force has in fact remained steady over the first three months of this year; but I am certainly keen to encourage more recruitment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the present quality of recruits offering themselves to the Metropolitan Police; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Candidates of differing standards offer themselves for

LONDON
On the basis of a five-day week
Up to 10 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	18 days
Up to 17 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	21days
Over 17 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	23 days
PARIS
On the basis of a six-day week	…	…	…	…	…	…	27 days
BONN
On the basis of a five-day week
Up to age 30	…	…	…	…	…	…	18 days
Up to age 40	…	…	…	…	…	…	22 days
Up to age 30	…	…	…	…	…	…	25 days
ROME
On the basis of a six-day week
Up to 2 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	15 days
2 to 6 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	20 days
6 to 15 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	30days
15 to 25 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	40 days
Over 25 year s' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	45 days
STOCKHOLM
On the basis of a six-day week
New entrants and up to age 29	…	…	…	…	…	…	24–27 days
From age 30 to39	…	…	…	…	…	…	27–30 days
From age 40 upwards	…	…	…	…	…	…	30–33 days
OTTAWA
On the basis of a five-day week
Ottawa City Police
Up to 14 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	21 days
Over 14 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	28 days
							Plus 1 day for each extra years' service
Ontario Provincial Police
Up to 14 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	21 days
Over 14 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	28 days
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Up to 10 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	21 days
Over 10 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	28 days
							plus traveling time to and from home in Canada.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average weekly hours presently being worked by constables in the Metropolitan Police for each of the divisions in that force.

recruitment but are accepted only after the most rigorous selection procedure, which includes interviews, educational tests, medical examination and background inquiries. The reduction later this year in the minimum age of entry to 18½will increase the attractiveness of the police service to the better qualified school leaver.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the current annual leave entitlements of police constables, or their equivalents, in London, Paris, Bonn, Rome, Stockholm and Ottawa, respectively.

The information is as follows:

The information requested is not readily available. But a sample survey undertaken by the Police Council in May 1974 in the Metropolitan and City of London forces indicated that uniform constables worked on average 51·6 hours a week and detective constables 61.4 hours a week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total establishment and strength of the Metropolitan Police as a whole, and in regard to each of its divisions.

On 13th April the establishment of the Metropolitan Police was 26,628, and the strength was 20,891. The position in each of the territorial divisions was as follows:

Division	Establishment	Strength
Airport	757	584
A	1,034	866
B	859	691
C	997	756
D	1,013	708
E	1,036	700
F	646	497
G	707	521
H	776	597
J	1,152	839
K	1,341	973
L	872	726
M	1,064	767
N	771	559
P	1,112	823
Q	941	700
R	957	691
S	947	623
T	996	674
V	838	616
W	796	628
X	975	691
Y	1,146	819
Z	1,072	788
Thames	209	212
Totals	23,014	17,049

Volume 891: debated on Friday 2 May 1975