HC Deb 19 January 2000 vol 342 cc453-4W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if validated figures for the total number of police officers per police force and in total at the end of October 1999 are available; and if he will make a statement. [104728]

Mr. Charles Clarke

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 December 1999,Official Report, column 145W.

We collect police strength information only on a six monthly basis in order to reduce administrative burdens on the police. Police strength figures as at October 1999 will not therefore be requested from forces.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving police officers there were on 30 June and 31 December in each of the years 1992 to 1999 for which figures are available. [104465]

Mr. Charles Clarke

Information on police numbers is set out in the table. From 1995, this information has been collected only twice yearly, in March and September.

Police numbers 1992 to 1999
Number
June
1992 127,626
1993 128,031
1994 127,328
December
1992 128,045
1993 127,658
1994 127,358
March
1995 127,222
1996 126,901
1997 127,158
1998 126,814
1999 126,096
September
1995 126,808
1996 127,123
1997 126,862
1998 126,504
1999 1—
1 Not yet available