§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present establishment of the Hampshire police force; to what extent it is below its established strength; and what steps are being taken by his Department in conjunction with the Hampshire Police Authority to maintain its strength.
§ Dr. Summerskill:The strength on 31st March 1975 was 2,706 with 139 vacancies. £10,000 has been made available for each of the financial years 1974–75 and 1975–76 for local recruitment activities. A special advertising campaign has been organised during the past six months in 10 local newspapers and the force has advertised, using a special film, on Southern Television. Open days are regularly organised at police stations and stands are mounted at exhibitions and other functions. The force also benefits from national publicity activities for which £765,000 is available in 1975–76.