WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
22
POLICE TO GET LARGER BUDGET
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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TODAY ANNOUNCED A BIGGER BUDGET FOR THE POLICE FORCE AND SAID THERE SHOULD BE UP TO 1,700 EXTRA POLICEMEN AVAILABLE FOR ACTIVE DUTY BY THE END OF THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, IF RECRUITING IS SUCCESSFUL AND WASTAGE IS IGNORED.
SPEAKING ON THE SUBJECT OF LAW AND ORDER, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE POLICE WOULD COST $521 MILLION IN 1976-77 REPRESENTING A 12 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, AND 68 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL COST OF LAW AND ORDER SERVICES.
HE SAID THE BIGGER POLICE BUDGET WAS LARGELY ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO BRING THE OPERATIONAL STRENGTH OF THE POLICE UP TO FULL ESTABLISHMENT WHICH WOULD INVOLVE CREATING AN EXTRA 1,000 POSTS FOR A TRAINING RESERVE.
+TO ASSIST IN THE RECRUITING PROCESS, THE CAPACITY OF THE POLICE CADET SCHOOL WILL BE INCREASED FROM 300 TO 600 BY THE OPENING OF AN EXTENSION AT DODWELL'S RIDGE, HE SAID.
+ THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS LARGER POLICE FORCE SHOULD BE GREATLY ASSISTED BY THE PROVISION OF $34 MILLION FOR THE FINAL STAGE OF IMPLEMENTING THE BEAT RADIO SCHEME AND ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT,+ HE ADDED.
FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT OF THE POLICE WITH THE PUBLIC WILL BE ASSISTED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF 28 REPORTING CENTRES
IN HOUSING ESTATES AND THE CREATION OF A FURTHER 500 MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES SO AS TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET OF 2,030 SUCH COMMITTEES SET FOR 1977.
MR. HADDON-CAVE ALSO ANNOUNCED A BIGGER BUDGET FOR THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION TO ALLOW ITS OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT TO CARRY OUT MORE INTENSIVE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT TO FILL ALL THE POSTS.
THE ICAC WILL GET $13 MILLION MORE IN 1976-77, REPRESENTING A 52 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF $25 MILLION FOR 1975-76.
THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT IS ALSO GETTING MORE MONEY IN 1976-77. PROVISION HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE ESTIMATES TO DEVELOP PRISON INDUSTRIES.
THE 1976-77 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT AMOUNTS TO $122 MILLION INCREASE OVER 1974-75.
A NEARLY 50 PER CENT
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