HC Deb 27 January 1986 vol 90 cc370-1W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands police constabulary as to the numbers of uniformed and civilian manpower in his force, as to the levels of pay which have been allocated to each rank of officer, as to the number of officers in his force who have been employed on drug detection duties each year since 1979 and as to what proportion of the expenditure of the West Midlands police constabulary will qualify within the framework of the 8 per cent. increment which he intends to allocate to police in England and Wales.

Mr. Giles Shaw

On 30 November 1985 there were 6,539 police officers and 1,354 full-time and 289 part-time civilian staff in the West Midlands police.

The rates of pay or salary scales of each rank of police officer in the West Midlands police are as follows:

£ per annum
Chief Constable 40,500
Deputy Chief Constable 32,400
Assistant Chief Constables 26,730
Chief Superintendents
On promotion 22,671
After 1 year 22,995
After 2 years 23,511
After 3 years 24,072
Superintendents
On promotion 20,394
After 1 year 20,913
After 2 years 21,432
After 3 years 22,143
Chief Inspectors
On promotion 14,991
After 1 year 15,411
After 2 years 15,828
After 3 years 16,254
After 4 years 16,677
Inspectors
On promotion 13,203
After 1 year 13,617
After 2 years 14,151
After 3 years 14,568
After 4 years 14,991
Sergeants
On promotion 11,508
After 1 year 12,033
After 2 years 12,456
After 3 years 12,870
After 4 years 13,203
Constables
Less than 1 year's service (under 22) 7,212
£ per annum
Less than 1 year's service (over 22) *9,075
After 1 year (under 22) 7,710
After 1 year (over 22) *9,075
After 2 years 9,705
After 3 years 9,291
After 4 years 9,597
After 5 years 9,927
After 6 years 10,245
After 7 years 10,563
After 8 years 10,875
After 12 years 11,508
After 15 years 12,033
* These rates are only payable to persons who join the service for the first time aged 22 or over.

The strength of the drug squad in the West Midlands police was 39 during the period 1979 to December 1985 when it was increased to 55.

The planned increases in cash provision for total police expenditure in England and Wales are not allocated to individual forces. The West Midlands police budget is determined by the police authority. In setting the police budget for 1986–87 the authority will need to take account of my right hon. Friend's determination of its maximum precept, under section 68 of the Local Government Act 1985. Authorised police expenditure qualifies for 50 per cent. specific grant from the Home Office.

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