§ Mr. WatersonT o ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers there were in Sussex in May 1997; and how many there are now; [130634]
(2) what the establishment of the East Downs Division of Sussex Police was in May 1997; and what it is now. [130516]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI understand from the Chief Constable of the Sussex Police that on 31 May 1997 the force had 3,038 police officers and that on 13 July this year there were 2,891 officers. I have been told that recruitment in the Sussex Police is on course to reach its target of 228 new constables for this year and this number includes the 69 constables to be recruited under the force's Crime Fighting Fund allocation.
I have been informed by the Chief Constable that it is not possible to provide information on the number of officers in the East Downs Division for 1997. But there were 269 officers in the East Downs Division on 13 July this year. I understand that the East Downs will benefit from the extra constables being recruited by the force.