§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers and constables there were in the Chelmsford Division of the Essex Constabulary(a) on 1 May 1997 and (b) at the latest available date; and what reports he has received from the Chief Constable about the number of (i) officers and (ii) constables there will be in that division in the next three years. [114784]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe information requested has been provided by the Chief Constable of Essex and is set out in the table. I have not received any reports on the Chief Constable's future plans for the policing of Chelmsford. Ministers have no direct control over police numbers. Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994 it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in their force within the resources that are available. It will also be for the Chief Constable to consider how he wishes to deploy the 103 police recruits that have been allocated to the Essex police under the Crime Fighting Fund over the next three years.
Chelmsford Division Year Total number of officers Constables 1 May 1997 207.5 162.5 1 March 2000 195.5 153