London Police Problems

Northern Advocate, 18 September 1939, Page 8

London Police Problems

A further increase in crime in London last year is linked up with the shortage of police man-power by Sir Philip Game, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, in his annual report for 1938, says the “Daily Telegraph.” The establshment of the Metropolitan Police at the end of last year was 19,416, but the actual strength was only 18,511—a shortage of 905. The women police, whose establishment was 142, showed a shortage of 37. Economy Must Stop.

Sir Philip points out that despite the steady increase in street mileage and population, the establishment of the Police Force has not been increased for many years. Economy in man-power by mechanical aids, such as modern transport, police boxes, traffic lights, and wireless, has gone as far as it can. An increase in establishment, he says, is already justified; but it is premature to consider this as long as the flow of recruits is insufficient not only to bring the force up to establishment, but even to make good the wastage. Recruiting last year fell short of wastage by nearly 400 men.

Further Increase,

In regard to crime, Sir Philip writes: “I regret to have to record a further increase of 3.3 per cent, in the number of indictable crimes compared with 1937, on top of the increase of 10 per cent in that year compared with 1936, but I feel that what has been said —about shortage of police—largely accounts for the increase.

“I would, in fact, go further, and suggest that a still greater increase has only been avoided by an intensified effort on the part of all ranks and all branches of the force to keep crime down and to discover the criminal when an offence, has been committed.”