§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces by name in each of the past five years have suspended recruitment up to agreed establishment levels for specified periods, including those which are currently not recruiting.
§ Mr. HurdThe information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The actual strengths of police forces, compared with their authorised establishments, depend on a number of factors, such as variable recruiting patterns and wastage and other local circumstances. It is not uncommon for forces to suspend recruitment for short periods for administrative or other local reasons. During 1983 the average deficiency on the establishment of police forces in England and Wales was 0.71 per cent., and at the end of December 1983 it was 0.78 per cent. During the past two and a half years, no force outside London has had a deficiency of more than 3 per cent. on its establishment for more than two consecutive months.