§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the chief constable the establishment for the Durham County Police Authority and the number of existing vacancies, and publish these figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SharplesOn 29th February, 1972, there were 131 vacancies in an authorised establishment of 2,797.
§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable on present proposals for increasing the number of police officers in the employment of the Durham County Police Authority.
§ Mr. SharplesThe authorised establishment of the force was increased from 2,686 to 2,747 in November, 1971, and to 2,797 on 27th January, 1972. No further increases in authorised establishment are planned at present, but the authority is recruiting additional civilian staff who will release 71 police officers for operational work. There has been a net increase in strength of 43 in the last four months.