§ Mr. GroganTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police accident investigation officers were employed in the UK in(a) 1992, (b) 1995,(c) 1998 and (d) 2001. [36549]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information set out below is only for England and Wales as my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett) is not responsible for policing in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Information is collected annually by Her Majesty"s Inspectorate of Constabulary about the deployment of police service personnel.
I understand from the Inspectorate that it is not possible to identify separately the number of accident investigation officers as they are part of a larger traffic support group within police forces that also undertakes other traffic duties such as speed radar operators, vehicle examiners and hazardous chemical experts.