HC Deb 08 January 2002 vol 377 cc779-80W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there have been in the constituency of Buckingham in each year since 1997. [22627]

Mr. Denham

I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley police that it is not possible to provide information about the number of special constables specifically for the Buckingham constituency, as such information is not collected. Figures are available for the number of special constables in the Aylesbury Vale police area, which incorporates the Buckingham constituency, at 31 March each year, and these are:

Year Number
1997 57
1998 72
1999 77
2000 43
2001 40

The Government are committed to increasing the special constabulary and as part of the police reform process we are working with stakeholders on a range of measures to significantly improve the management, welfare and deployment of specials.