§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of population in Portsmouth and Hampshire to the number of police; how this compares with the rest of England; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI understand from the chief constable of Hampshire that the population per police officer in these areas is as follows:
Ratio Portsmouth (comprising Portsmouth Central, Cosham, Fratton and Southsea sub-divisions) 1:495 Hampshire 1:536 For information about ratios in the rest of England, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 27 February 1986 at columns 655–58, which set out the ratio of population to police officer for each police force in England and Wales on 31 December 1985.