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serving on 3 year contracts - do not always have the commitment
needed. These aspects are unlikely to improve as 1997 approaches.
37. The sobering fact is that a Force which should be expanding from its current establishment of 27,500 to some 28,000 during financial
year 1990/91 is barely able to sustain its present strength, which is
some 1,100 men below establishment. It is assessed that if the
current (Mar 91) retention and wastage rates are maintained, the
strength of the RHKP will have fallen to approximately 20,000 by mid 1997. [
[ statistics to be confirmed through 1991). The RHKP has
already had to review plans to form six 170 strong companies for the
border task and this has resulted in only four companies being formed,
with no corresponding reduction in role or tasks. The additional
flexibility which these two companies would have
two companies would have provided for the
border and emergencies in the Territory has now been lost. Add all
this to a perception that the RHKP's status in society has diminished
and an increase in violent crime, and the prognosis for their future
manning at this time must be pessimistic.
38.
RHKP Special Branch (SB) gives particular grounds for concern.
At present it is a most effective organisation, some 1,000 strong.
However, it will have been reduced by 1992 to a "Security Wing" of 700
personnel, formed from scratch over the previous two years with a view
to continuing as part of the SAR Police Force after 1997. The present operational core of SB will reduce in the next two years to a 230
strong intelligence Wing which will in turn disband in 1995.
39.
In summary, despite the fact that the RHKP is still a relatively
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THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED
IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER
SECTION 3 (4) OF THE
PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958
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