§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the overall increase in the numbers of(a) police officers of all ranks and (b) police constables in England and Wales over the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997. [2965]
§ Mr. MichaelProvisional figures from police forces show that total police numbers increased by 257 to 127,158 in the 12 months ending March 1997. Within that total, police constable numbers increased by 460 to 98,132. These increases are well below the 1,000 additional officers planned by the previous Government last year.