§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what immediate steps he intends to take to remedy the understaffing of the Staffordshire police force; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydMy right hon. Friend has approved eight additional police posts for Staffordshire as from676W 1 October 1991, bringing the establishment to 2,211. There were 15 vacancies at the end of October, bringing the force within 1 per cent. of its establishment.
It is for the Staffordshire police authority to determine the level of manpower required, subject to my right hon. Friend's approval. The authority has made an application for 20 additional police posts in 1992–93; my right hon. Friend will make an announcement on the allocation of additional police posts for 1992–93 shortly.