§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to how many hours' overtime were on average worked by a police constable in his force(a) in 1979 and (b) in 1990.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the chief constable of Northumbria that the average amount of overtime worked per officer in the federated ranks in Northumbria in 1990 was 185.37 hours. Figures for 1979 are no longer available and the other detailed information requested would be obtainable only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to how many(a) constables,(b) inspectors, (c) chief inspectors, (d) superintendents and (e) chief superintendents there were in his force (i) in 1979 and (ii) in 1990.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe information requested is set out in the table.
18W
At 31 December 1979 1990 Constables 2,529 2,680 Inspectors 190 193 Chief Inspectors 60 63
At 31 December 1979 1990 Superintendents 51 50 Chief Superintendents 13 13
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to the number of(a) police officers, (b) police cars and (c) motor cyclists who were on hand at Newcastle airport for the recent visit of the Duke and Duchess of Kent; and what was the cost of policing the Kents' visit to Northumbria.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe level of policing for particular events is a matter of operational judgment for the chief constable concerned. I understand from the chief constable of the Northumbria police that a total of 30 officers were on hand at Newcastle airport for the visit by their Royal Highnesses on 10 April. Of these, 12 were drivers, 14 were motor cyclists, and four officers were deployed from territorial divisional duties. The use of motor cyclists in particular resulted in significant reductions in the level of police resources needed during the visits subsequently made by their Royal Highnesses to seven different venues in the county of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. The additional cost to the Northumbria police was about £2,000.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to the total real cost of policing in Northumbria for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. Peter LloydNo. This is a matter for the police authority.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to the number of officers(a) stationed and (b) residing at Ponteland; and what are their duties.
§ Mr. Peter LloydMy right hon. Friend has no plans to call for a report; nor is the information centrally held.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria as to the number of serving officers for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe number of officers on the strength of the Northumbria police at 31 December for each year since 1979 is as follows:
Police strength 1979 3,339 1980 3,340 1981 3,331 1982 3,329 1983 3,337 1984 3,344 1985 3,368 1986 3,361 1987 3,478 1988 3,460 1989 3,526 1990 3,528
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief 19W constable of Northumbria as to the total cost, including manpower, of the force helicopter for each year since it was acquired.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe Northumbria police air support unit became operational in November 1989. I understand from the chief constable that the cost of the first year of operation was £656,320, including police manpower costs of £165,670.