§ 17. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of police officers is per 10,000 population in(a) England and (b) Devon and Cornwall. [629]
52W
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthIn 2000–01 there were 23.4 police officers per 10,000 population in England, and 18.7 officers per 10,000 population in Devon and Cornwall.
§ 32 Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police numbers. [646]
§ Mr. DenhamMy right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced the most recent police numbers on 28 June. On 31 March 2001, police numbers in England and Wales were 125,519. This is an increase of 1,349 over 31 March last year. It is a clear indication that the Crime Fighting Fund which is intended to deliver an additional 9,000 recruits over three years is taking effect.
We expect that within the lifetime of this Parliament police strength will reach 130,000 officers.
§ 34. Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report on police numbers in North Yorkshire. [649]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Home Secretary announced the most recent police numbers on 28 June. At 31 March 2001, police numbers in North Yorkshire were 1,305. This is an increase of 22 over March 2000.
Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers and civilian staff were employed in each year since 1996 in Harrow. [1111]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information requested has been provided by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis and is set out in the table.
I am told by the Commissioner that he has increased the Budgeted Workforce Total for police officers in Harrow from 295 officers in 2000–01 to 311 for the current financial year.
Metropolitan police—Harrow division Year1 Police officers2 Civilian staff2 December 1996 283 76 December 1997 289 71 December 1998 281 68 December 1999 291 69 December 2000 292 68 May 2001 307 72 1 Information for 1996 to 2000 is available only by calendar year 2 Figures are for full-time equivalent staff
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of police(a) sergeants and (b) inspectors in England and Wales. [1250]
§ Mr. DenhamThe powers of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to decide on the number of police officers in each rank for each force were removed under the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994. It is for Chief Officers of Police to determine staffing levels for sergeants, inspectors and other ranks within the overall resources available.