§ Richard OttawayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the numerical strength of police officers in the London Metropolitan police area in(a) April 2000 and (b) April 2001; and how many officers (i) have been recruited to the Metropolitan police and (ii) have left the service since 1 April 2001. [1778]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 3 July 2001]: The Metropolitan police had 25,485 police officers on 31 March 2000 and 24,878 officers on 31 March 2001. Most of the decrease of 607 officers can be attributed to the reduction in the size of the Metropolitan police district following the boundary changes with Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey on 1 April 2000.
I am told by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that 412 officers were recruited in April and May of this year. 264 left in the same period.