asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers left the Greater Manchester Constabulary prior to the completion of their term of service during the first nine months of 1977; and what were the equivalent figures for the same period of 1974, 1975 and 1976;(2) how many police officers left the Metropolitan Police Force prior to the completion of their full term of service during the first nine months of 1977; and what were the equivalent figures for the same period of 1974, 1975 and 1976;
(3) how many police officers left the Lancashire Constabulary prior to the completion of their full term of service during the first nine months of 1977; and what were the equivalent figures for the same period of 1974, 1975 and 1976.
Police officers are entitled to retire on pensions after 25 years service. But, taking full service as the age of compulsory retirement under Police Regulations, the figures are:
| Year (January—September) | Left below age limit | Transfers to other forces in England and Wales | ||
| GREATER MANCHESTER CONSTABULARY | ||||
| 1977 | … | … | 331 | 12 |
| 1976 | … | … | 291 | 19 |
| 1975 | … | … | 183 | 28 |
| 1974 | … | … | * | * |
| LANCASHIRE CONSTABULARY | ||||
| 1977 | … | … | 148 | 7 |
| 1976 | … | … | 145 | 6 |
| 1975 | … | … | 61 | 16 |
| 1974 | … | … | * | * |
| METROPOLITAN POLICE FORCE | ||||
| 1977 | … | … | 1,367 | 45 |
| 1976 | … | … | 864 | 52 |
| 1975 | … | … | 749 | 141 |
| 1974 | … | … | 844 | 112 |
| * Figures for 1974 are not comparable due to boundary changes on 1st April 1974. | ||||