HC Deb 20 January 2003 vol 398 cc3-4
2. Mr. Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne)

What proposals he has to increase police numbers in Sussex.[91423]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Hilary Benn)

The Sussex police force was allocated 206 recruits from the crime fighting fund for the three years to March 2003.

The provisional grant settlement for 2003–04 provides Sussex with an additional £90,000 from the crime fighting fund for further additional officers. We estimate that that will allow an increase of up to a further 16 officers by the end of 2003–04.

Mr. Waterson

Is the Minister aware that those figures are dwarfed by the £9.6 million loss that the Sussex police authority calculates will arise from the grant distribution changes? Is he also aware that the chief constable of Sussex has made it clear that even the modest of target of getting back to the number of police officers in Sussex in 1997 is being jeopardised by the Government's policies? Why are the Government giving with one hand and taking away with the other?

Hilary Benn

I do not accept that that is the case. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman welcomes the fact that the total force strength in Sussex is 4,400 officers and support staff, compared with 3,935 in 1992—the year in which the hon. Gentleman was first elected to the House. That is an increase of 12 per cent. This year, in line with all authorities, the force is getting a budget increase of 3 per cent. plus an additional £5.86 million from the crimefighting fund, £90,000 for new recruits, £550,000 for policing rural areas, £180,000 for community support officers and £735,000 to help with the cost of recruitment.

Mr. Waterson

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. That answer was so unsatisfactory that I intend to raise the matter on the Adjournment of the House.

Several hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Because of that point of order, I must go on to the next Question.