§ Dr. PughTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have seen a decline in the number of special constables employed in the last five years; and how many have seen a decline greater than 20 per cent. [117773]
§ Ms BlearsFigures on strength by police force area have moved to an annual cycle from March 2002 and will be available in the Library as previous publications. From March 1997 to March 2002 (latest figures available) all but one police force (Merseyside) in England and Wales have seen a decline in their numbers of special constables; and 38 have seen a decline greater than 20 per cent. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) figures (from records supplied by 37 forces) show that 569 specials left to join the regulars in the year ending 31 March 2002 and by 30 September 2002 (the latest date available) there were 131,548 police officers in England and Wales. There was also 58,909 civilian support staff in March 2002 (latest available). Both are record numbers.
The Government are committed to reversing the decline in specials and we are working with stakeholders to increase the size and effectiveness of the special constabulary. In particular, we will be publishing 'Good Practice Guidance' on the new website, following on from the Specials "champions projects", ensuring that specials' contribution is properly valued and used to best effect. The new specials website, www.specialconstables.gov.uk, was launched in February to provide specials and their managers with up-to-date information on the special constabulary and access to legislation and Home Office circulars.
We also held the first ever National Specials Weekend in February to raise the profile of specials and give recognition to the invaluable work they do. And we have freed up regulations to allow forces to trial payment schemes funded locally. We are also looking at how we can improve the engagement of employers with the special constabulary; and whether we can increase the opportunities for recognising the skills and experience specials acquire in forces within their wider workplace.
§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there were in each police force in England and Wales in each year since 1997. [119374]
§ Ms BlearsFigures on strength by police force area have moved to an annual cycle from March 2002 and will be available in the Library, as previous publications. The number of serving special constables in each police force area from March 1997 to March 2002 (latest figures available) are set out in the table.
269W
March 1997 March 1998 March 1999 March 2000 March 2001 March 2002 Avon & Somerset 759 621 547 459 400 364 Bedfordshire 182 186 154 151 115 118 Cambridgeshire 303 320 310 274 218 207 Cheshire 475 459 407 350 290 191 Cleveland 160 164 126 128 93 85 Cumbria 189 198 204 176 156 102 Derbyshire 428 380 317 282 275 260 Devon & Cornwall 1,148 1,024 918 870 796 689 Dorset 289 315 305 298 267 253 Durham 184 144 159 157 146 134 Essex 634 638 544 483 445 381 Gloucestershire 297 276 233 206 183 154 Greater Manchester 685 598 523 457 367 338 Hampshire 621 698 760 615 454 444 Hertfordshire 297 306 238 216 198 206 Humberside 340 324 269 246 212 207 Kent 589 592 526 436 392 327 Lancashire 483 489 449 382 360 363 Leicestershire 415 406 316 247 162 143 Lincolnshire 271 260 216 195 166 155 City of London 86 76 64 56 43 36 Merseyside 401 419 458 476 541 468 Metropolitan police 1,714 1,282 1,138 758 774 680 Norfolk 402 337 336 285 259 244 Northamptonshire 316 288 230 199 188 177 Northumbria 533 400 342 332 300 256 North Yorkshire 362 358 276 217 182 185 Nottinghamshire 620 558 461 411 335 341 South Yorkshire 308 281 246 205 188 206 Staffordshire 685 595 468 482 402 384 Suffolk 379 397 420 391 349 308 Surrey 297 235 224 175 149 187 Sussex 472 442 393 352 306 306 Thames Valley 656 609 569 472 418 356 Warwickshire 381 345 261 260 221 209 WestMercia 582 512 515 476 399 339 West Midlands 945 889 731 680 617 598 West Yorkshire 690 589 559 484 415 349 Wiltshire 154 149 184 173 152 147 DyfedPowys 283 254 237 202 191 157 Gwent 157 119 113 119 137 142 North Wales 341 358 400 247 207 125 South Wales 361 366 338 267 254 277 Total all forces 19,874 18,256 16,484 14,347 12,722 11,598 Source:
Figures provided by Research Development Statistics Directorate.
We are working with stakeholders to increase the size and effectiveness of the special constabulary. In particular, we will be publishing 'Good Practice Guidance' on the new website, ensuring specials' contribution is properly valued and used to best effect. We also held the first ever National Specials Weekend in February to raise the profile of specials and the invaluable work they do. And we have freed up regulations to allow forces to trial payment schemes funded locally. We are looking al whether we can increase the opportunities for recognising the skills and experience specials acquire in forces within their wider workplace as well.