HC Deb 27 January 2003 vol 398 cc715-7W
Dr. Murrison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police in England have been allocated to traffic duties in each year since 1990; and what training in road accident investigation is given to police officers. [91852]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

The table gives the readily available information on the number of traffic officers in each police force in England. This covers the three years since 1999, in which year the definition of traffic officer used by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary changed. The definition is now "staff who are predominantly employed on motor-cycles or in patrol vehicles for the policing of traffic and motorway related duties". This definition excludes those engaged in accident investigation, vehicle examination or radar duties.

The adoption of an intelligence-led approach to traffic policing, the integration of such policing with

made, (b) the numbers arrested and charged or released at each location and (c) the date of each of these incidents. [92037]

Mr. Blunkett

Since 1 December 2002 and to date, a total of 75 arrests have been made under the Terrorism Act 2000. The table details dates, locations and outcomes.

other core activities, the increased use of cameras and other technology, and the more effective use of police resources can lead to a reduction in dedicated traffic officers without a reduction in performance in meeting traffic-related targets or enforcement levels.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has created a protocol to safeguard expertise and credibility by providing a common standard within the police service for the conduct of collision investigation and reconstruction. Under this, police forces should aim, at the primary level, to train collision investigation officers to the level of the appropriate City and Guilds qualification or an approved equivalent. The recommendation is that the qualification should be achieved within two years of the officer first undertaking this type of work. In addition, specialist officers are required to undergo continuing professional development, which provides a means of maintaining and enhancing their expertise and ensuring the maintenance of standards.

Number of traffice officers by police force
1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02
Avon and Somerset 200.3 210.5 214.0
Bedfordshire 73.0 69.0 68.5
Cambridgeshire 93.0 86.0 78.0
Cheshire 195.6 187.0 194.0
City of London 22.0 24.0 25.0
Cleveland 67.9 62.9 67.0
Cumbria 118.8 111.0 108.0
Derbyshire 138.6 135.6 140.3
Devon and Cornwall 215.3 202.3 186.7
Dorset 83.0 86.0 81.0
Durham 116.0 112.8 112.6
Essex 245.1 249.1 253.7
Gloucestershire 67.6 68.6 63.6
Greater Manchester 432.8 422.8 420.8
Hampshire 251.0 240.0 239.8
Hertfordshire 155.0 168.0 149.0
Humberside 154.6 145.0 136.0
Kent 102.6 103.6 103.6
Lancashire 220.4 216,8 219.6
Leicestershire 87.0 95.0 85.7
Lincolnshire 93.0 88.0 97.8
Merseyside 185.0 130.0 126.0
Metropolitan police 823.8 685.7 602.0
Norfolk 108.6 112.6 114.0
Northamptonshire 51.8 51.8 61.4
Northumbria 158.0 158.0 178.0
North Yorkshire 96.0 129.0 140.0
Nottinghamshire 166.5 175.0 111.0
South Yorkshire 196.4 206.4 208.4
Staffordshire 188.0 35.0 34.0
Suffolk 70.0 62.6 67.6
Surrey 173.0 197.0 109.5
Sussex 191.3 190.0 174.2
Thames Valley 251.4 250.5 246.8
Warwickshire 102.0 95.8 95.0
West Mercia 278.0 322.0 325.0
West Midlands 394.0 380.0 385.0
West Yorkshire 322.8 326.2 336.2
Wiltshire 92.7 91.0 88.0
Totals 6,791.9 6,718.6 6,446.8

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