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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1977
GOVT. TO SPEND MORE ON LAW AND ORDER SERVICES
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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY PROPOSED FURTHER INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE ON LAW AND ORDER SERVICES IN 1977-78 WITH THE INTENTION OF CREATING MORE POSTS IN THE POLICE FORCE.
PRESENTING HIS BUDGET IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. HADDON- CAVE SAID THE DRAFT ESTIMATES PROVIDED FOR EXPENDITURE OF $952 MILLION ON LAW AND ORDER SERVICES IN 1977-78, COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1976-77 OF $791 MILLION.
THE PROPOSED ESTIMATES FOR THESE SERVICES REPRESENT 11.5 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE IN 1977-78.
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID: THE POLICE FORCE WILL COST $658 MILLION IN 1977-78. THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF $110 MILLION, OR 20 PER CENT, OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1976-77 OF $548 MILLION, AND IS ACCOUNTED FOR MAINLY BY OUR INTENTION TO CREATE SOME 1.400 ADDITIONAL POSTS AND TO MAINTAIN THE FORCE AT OR NEAR FULL STRENGTH.
+ IF THESE POSTS ARE APPROVED, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FORCE WILL EXCEED 21,800, AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 2,500 POSTS OVER THE ESTABLISHMENT APPROVED IN THE 1976-77 ESTIMATES.+
HE SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE NUMBER OF VIOLENT CRIMES APPEARED TO BE FALLING FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, AND THE GROWTH RATE OF SERIOUS CRIMES GENERALLY ALSO SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN CONTAINED WITH THE HELP OF INCREASED MANPOWER.
+A SUSTAINED EFFORT IS ESSENTIAL IF WE ARE TO REDUCE CRIME FURTHER AND THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO EMPLOY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THIS END.+
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