§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women left the police service before reaching normal retirement age in each of the last five years; what were the reasons for their early retirement; if he will list the number and reasons for women's early retirement in Merseyside Police; and what initiatives he has to retain in and recruit women to the police service. [92259]
67W
§ Mr. BoatengThe Police service, supported by the Government, seeks to encourage applications to the police service from all under represented groups. As part of this strategy, we are proposing to review the whole recruitment process from application to selection with a view to removing any discriminatory practices.
Women now represent 15.17 per cent. of police officers in England and Wales and there has been a steady increase in female representation at senior ranks. There are now three women chief constables out of a total of 43.
Numbers of women leaving the service in England and Wales 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Police dismissed or required to resign 118 95 110 14 18 Police voluntary resignations 194 187 172 258 241 Police medical retirements 380 390 376 348 316 Police ordinary retirements 78 30 63 40 53 Police deaths 4 9 11 7 6 Total wastage 774 711 732 667 634 Left before ordinary retirement 696 681 669 627 581
Women leaving the Merseyside Police 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Police dismissed or required to resign 4 4 0 0 1 Police voluntary resignations 5 1 2 9 5 Police medical retirements 23 26 33 19 20 Police ordinary retirements 2 1 0 0 3 Police deaths 0 0 0 0 3 Total wastage 34 32 35 28 30 Left before ordinary retirement 32 31 35 28 27