§ Mr. GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Home Department what the actual establishment for the police was for each year since 1978 in(a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) the west midlands and (e) H division, Walsall.
§ Mr. MacleanThe information for England and Wales and the West Midlands police is set out in the table. The position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The setting of divisional establishments within the West Midlands police is for the chief constable to decide.
Establishment of police service in England and Wales1 as at 31 December Year England and Wales West Midlands Police H Division (Walsall) 1978 118,967 6,509 423 1979 119,765 6,509 423 1980 120,261 6,509 423 1981 121,353 6,684 421 1982 121,480 6,684 419 1983 121,802 6,684 419 1984 122,233 6,684 419 1985 122,457 6,684 417 1986 123,514 6,684 424 1987 124,370 6,684 427 1988 125,390 6,754 451 1989 126,592 6,830 450 1990 127,588 6,893 459 1991 128,265 6,958 461 1992 128,972 6,977 460 1993 128,859 6,977 470 19942 128,954 6,991 470 1 Includes central service, regional crime squads and inter-force units. 2 Establishment as at 31 August 1994.
§ Mr. GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional police officers have been released to operational duties as a result of civilianisation in the past five years in each of the following areas:(a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) the west midlands and (e) H division Walsall.
§ Mr. MacleanOver the last five years–1989 to 1993—the following number of police officer posts have been civilianised thereby releasing those police officers for redeployment to other tasks. It is a matter for individual chief officers to decide how these additional resources should be used.
- England and Wales - 3,327 posts
- West Midlands police - 61 posts
Progress on civilianisation within Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Information on H division Walsall is not readily available.
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§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the organisations consulted on the issues covered by the Home Office review of core police functions.
§ Mr. MacleanConsultation is currently under way with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Superintendents Association, the Police Federation, the Association of County Councils and the Association of Metropolitan Authorities. My right hon. and learned Friend will decide on the appropriate level and type of wider consultation in the light of recommendations made by the review in its final report at the turn of the year.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the nature, length of time and extent of the consultation exercise he intends to carry out in response to the recommendation of the Home Office review of core police functions.
§ Mr. MacleanI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 July, columns493–94.