Police Recruitment (Hansard, 24 July 2000)

§ 24. Mr. St. Aubyn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police recruitment. [130345]

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
Taking account of their Crime Fighting Fund bids, forces currently estimate that they will recruit about 7,600 officers this financial year.
I understand from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and other sources that most forces are experiencing no difficulties in recruiting. The Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police are, however, finding it difficult to recruit, as are other forces, including Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Thames Valley.
The Government are doing all they can to help all forces maximise recruitment, including funding a national recruitment campaign to be launched later this Summer. This will focus particularly on London and the South East. It is designed to improve the image of the police and encourage quality applicants.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 23 June an increase of £3,327 in the London Allowance for those Metropolitan and City officers who joined on or after 1 September 1994 and who are not in receipt of housing allowance. The increase is intended to make the starting pay of new officers in those forces, more attractive and so boost recruitment.

§ 34. Mr. Salter
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received indicating which police forces find it most difficult to(a) recruit and (b) retain police officers; and what plans he has to seek to address these difficulties. [130355]

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
I understand from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and other sources that most forces are having no difficulty in recruiting. The Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London police are however finding it difficult to recruit and retain new police officers. A few others, including Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Thames Valley have reported some recruitment problems.
We are doing all we can to help all forces maximise recruitment and minimise wastage, including funding a national recruitment campaign to be launched later in the summer. This will focus particularly on London and the South-east. It is designed to improve the image of the police and encourage quality applicants.
To help address the recruitment and retention problems in London my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in the policing of London debate, on 23 June 2000, Official Report, column 562, a £3,327 increase in London Allowance for those Metropolitan or City Officers who joined on or after 1 September 1994 and who are not in receipt of housing allowance.