§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police cadets there were in(a) May 1979 and (b) May 1997; how many there are at present; what plans he has to increase the number; and if he will make a statement. [58540]
§ Mr. BoatengThe information is set out in the table.
Year Number of police cadets May 1979 2,893 March 19971 261 March 19981 127 1After March 1995 police personnel numbers were collected only twice a year (March and September). September 1998 figures are not yet available. In 1979, all forces had police cadets. By 1997, cadets were employed in only six forces, and by March 1998 in four forces (Bedfordshire, Durham, Staffordshire and West Midlands).
Ministers have no direct control over numbers of police personnel. It has always been a matter for chief constables and police authorities to determine whether to employ police cadets.