§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of voluntary constables was in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [59301]
§ Mr. DenhamThe numbers of special constables in England and Wales from 1991 to 2001 are given in the table. From 1990 to 1995, statistics on the strength of the special constabulary in England and Wales were collected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. These were compiled at the end of the calendar year until 1993, and then for the financial year 1994–95. Since 1995, these statistics have been collected by the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate. They are compiled at the end of March and September each year.
Number of special constables December 1991 17,543 December 1992 19,035 December 1993 20,573 March 1995 20,026 September 1995 19,655 September 1996 19,451 September 1997 19,163 September 1998 17,296 September 1999 15,727 September 2000 13,487 September 2001 12,068 Sources:
Figures to March 1995 supplied by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), figures from September 1995 supplied by Home Office Research. Development and Statistics Directorate.
The Government are committed to reversing this decline in numbers. As we outlined in the White Paper, the current police reform process is an opportunity to achieve a stronger, increasingly professional special constabulary. Measures to achieve this include: a new headline role focusing on intelligence led patrolling and 119W crime reduction initiatives; a new national foundation training package for special constables; joint Home Office/ Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) good practice guidance covering recruitment, management and deployment of specials; new conditions of service and conduct regulations.
In January 2002 we ran a press campaign targeting specials as part of the national recruitment campaign for the regular police service. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary recently announced at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), we will also be working with employers to encourage them to support employees who are specials—in particular by giving them extra paid leave to carry out their police duties.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables were actively working in Devon and Cornwall in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [59300]
§ Mr. DenhamThe numbers of special constables in Devon and Cornwall since 1992 are given in the table. From 1990 to 1995, statistics on the strength of the special constabulary in England and Wales were collected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. These were compiled at the end of the calendar year until 1993, and then for the financial year 1994–95. Since 1995, these statistics have been collected by the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate. They are compiled at the end of March and September each year.
Number of special constables December 1992 946 December 1993 1,067 March 1995 1,142 September 1995 1,079 September 1996 1,133 September 1997 1,079 September 1998 916 September 1999 908 September 2000 836 September 2001 780 Notes:
Figures to March 1995 supplied by HMIC.
Figures from September 1995 supplied by Home Office Research.
Development and Statistics Directorate
The Government is committed to reversing the decline in the number of special constables. As we outlined in the White Paper, the current police reform process is an opportunity to achieve a stronger, increasingly professional special constabulary. Measures to achieve this include: a new headline role focusing on intelligence led patrolling and crime reduction initiatives; a new national foundation training package for special constables; joint Home Office/Association of Chief Police Officers good practice guidance covering recruitment, management and deployment of specials; new conditions of service and conduct regulations.
In January we ran a press campaign targeting specials as part of the national recruitment campaign for the regular police service. And as my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary recently announced at the Confederation of British Industry, we will also be working with 120W employers to encourage them to support employees who are specials—in particular by giving them extra paid leave to carry out their police duties.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables were employed in Hampshire in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [60009]
§ Mr. DenhamThe numbers of special constables in Hampshire since 1992 are given in the table. From 1990 to 1995, statistics on the strength of the special constabulary in England and Wales were collected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). These were compiled at the end of the calendar year until 1993, and then for the financial year 1994–95. Since 1995, these statistics have been collected by the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate. They are compiled at the end of March and September each year.
Number of special constables December 1992 587 December 1993 611 March 1995 598 September 1995 549 September 1996 519 September 1997 681 September 1998 747 September 1999 720 September 2000 500 September 2001 444 Notes:
Figures to March 1995 supplied by HMIC.
Figures from September 1995 supplied by Home Office Research,
Development and Statistics Directorate.
The Government is committed to reversing the recent decline in the number of special constables. As we outlined in the White Paper, the current police reform process is an opportunity to achieve a stronger, increasingly professional special constabulary. Measures to achieve this include: a new headline role focusing on intelligence led patrolling and crime reduction initiatives; a new national foundation training package for special constables; joint Home Office/Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) good practice guidance covering recruitment, management and deployment of specials; new conditions of service and conduct regulations.
In January 2002 we ran a press campaign targeting specials as part of the national recruitment campaign for the regular police service. And as my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett) recently announced at the Confederation of British Industry, we will also be working with employers to encourage them to support employees who are specials.