Minister Tackled on Police Recruitment and Retention in West Berkshire

4.16.01pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 8th Dec 2003

David Rendel MP intervened in Home Office Questions in the House of Commons today to raise the issue of police recruitment and retention in West Berkshire.

Mr Rendel pointed out that recruits serving in the Metropolitan Police receive much higher allowances than those in the Thames Valley force. Meanwhile, lower house prices in other parts of the country make recruitment and retention in West Berkshire even more difficult.

Commenting, Mr Rendel said:

"Officers recruited and trained in West Berkshire have an incentive to opt for London, where they will receive higher pay allowances, or for other parts of the country, where housing is cheaper.

"I challenged the Minister to meet the recruitment and training costs of officers who move elsewhere out of central funds. It is not fair that local residents have to meet the excess costs of training and recruiting officers who are not retained in our area.

"This sort of recruitment and retention problem will stay for as long as the Government refuses to recognise the cost of living problems in this part of the country."