§ Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police force are(a) female and (b) from ethnic minorities. [45645]
Female and ethnic minority police officers As at 31 March 1998 Police Force Police strength Female officers % Female officers of strength Ethnic minority officers % Ethnic minority officers of strength Avon and Somerset 2,975,9 389.9 13.1 34 1.1 Bedfordshire 1,078.5 189.5 17.6 37 3.4 Cambridgeshire 1,291.4 189.8 14.7 31 2.4 Cheshire 2,035.9 307.3 15.1 6 0.29 Cleveland 1,483.4 225.9 15.2 18 1.2 City of London 824.9 121.9 14.8 20 2.4 Cumbria 1,163.5 187 16.1 2 0.17 Derbyshire 1,772.2 226.2 12.8 37 2.1 Devon and Cornwall 2,961.5 454.5 15.3 5 0.17 Dorset 1,110 206 18.6 5 0.45 Durham 1,514.8 262.8 17.3 7 0.46 Dyfed-Powys 1,002.3 129.3 12.9 1 0.10 Essex 2,928.5 475.5 16.2 36 1.2 Gloucestershire 1,103.9 165.9 15.0 12 1.1 Greater Manchester 6,948.7 1,225.4 17.6 164 2.4 Gwent 1,232.8 178.8 14.5 13 1.1 Hampshire 3,489.5 569.6 16.3 27 0.77 Hertfordshire 1,739.9 311.1 17.9 20 1.2 Humberside 2,021.2 290.2 14.4 13 0.6 Kent 3,251.8 547.2 16.8 34 1.0 Lancashire 3,258.1 535.6 16.4 39 1.2 Leicestershire 1,983.1 320.4 16.2 89 4.5 Lincolnshire 1,191.1 151.5 12.7 6 0.5 Merseyside 4,217.4 667.4 15.8 72 1.7 Metropolitan Police 26,192.7 3,910.9 14.9 861 3.3 Norfolk 1,429.6 208.6 14.6 9 0.63 North Wales 1,396 199 14.3 1 0.07 North Yorkshire 1,367.2 193.2 14.1 7 0.51 Northamptonshire 1,168.7 181.4 15.5 31 2.7 Northumbria 3,766.7 563.4 15.0 33 0.88 Nottinghamshire 2,322.6 337.6 14.5 61 2.6 South Wales 2,986.2 354.2 11.9 29 0.97 South Yorkshire 3,182 497 15.6 70 2.2 Staffordshire 2,292.1 439.1 19.2 33 1.4 Suffolk 1,185.8 188.6 15.9 13 1.1 Surrey 1,608.4 242.9 15.1 20 1.2 Sussex 3,037.7 471.6 15.5 23 0.76 Thames Valley 3,775.5 633 16.8 78 2.1 Warwickshire 924.1 139.1 15.1 23 2.5 West Mercia 2,011.8 308.8 15.3 26 1.3 West Midlands 7,180.5 1,442.8 20.1 294 4.1 West Yorkshire 5,154.7 808.6 15.7 133 2.6 Wiltshire 1,148.3 166.3 14.5 10 0.87 Total 124,710.9 19,614.5 15.7 2,483 2.0
§ Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase recruitment to the police force from those sections of society currently under-represented. [45710]
§ Mr. MichaelThe responsibility for making appointments to the police service in England and Wales lies with the chief officer of each police force. It is also their responsibility, with the assistance of their police authorities, to ensure that their forces represent the communities they serve. This includes those people from under-represented groups, such as those from ethnic minority communities.
218W
§ Mr. MichaelThe information requested is set out in the table. The figures are provisional and are subject to validation.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary have issued two thematic inspection reports: "Developing Diversity in the Police Service" and "Winning the Race", copies of which are in the Library. Both reports offer advice on the recruitment of people from under-represented sections of society. The latter report includes "a guide to assist forces in the area of ethnic minority recruitment", which should provide a helpful checklist of action for forces to take. My right hon. Friend has made it clear that he expects each police force in England and Wales to consider the conclusions of the latter report and to act on its findings during the course of 1998. Later this year, chief constables will be asked to report on action taken.