Police (Recruitment) (Hansard, 8 June 1978)

§ 17. Mr. Goodhart
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a further statement about recruitment for the Metropolitan Police.

§ 28. Mr. Gwilym Roberts
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures available for recruitment into the police forces; if he will publish in the Official Report details of the number of officers in the various forces; how far these fall short of the establishments; and what further steps he is taking to stimulate police recruitment.

§ Dr. Summerskill
The number of recruits into police forces in England and Wales for the first four months of this year was 2,823. The figure for the Metropolitan Police was 410. Despite wastage the police service, outside London, has slightly increased in strength so far this year. I regret to say, however, that the Metropolitan Police continues to suffer a net loss.
The following are the strength and establishment figures for individual forces.
197W

Force Authorised Establishment Strength for Ordinary Duty Deficiency

Hertfordshire … … 1,483 1,471 12 or 0.80 per cent.

Humberside … … 1,939 1,786 153 or 7.89 per cent.

Kent … … 2,703 2,655 48 or 1.77 per cent.

Lancashire … … 3,080 3,040 40 or 1.29 per cent.

Leicestershire … … 1,705 1,631 74 or 4.34 per cent.

Lincolnshire … … 1,182 1,139 43 or 3.63 per cent.

Merseyside … … 4,451 4,235 216 or 4.85 per cent.

Norfolk … … 1,264 1,214 50 or 3.95 per cent.

Northamptonshire … … 950 876 74 or 7.78 per cent.

Northumbria … … 3,322 3,172 150 or 4.51 per cent.

North Wales … … 1,276 1,240 36 or 2.82 per cent.

North Yorkshire … … 1,328 1,269 59 or 4.44 per cent.

Nottinghamshire … … 2,144 2.064 80 or 3.73 per ecnt.

South Wales … … 3,069 2,870 199 or 6.48 per cent.

South Yorkshire … … 2,752 2,500 252 or 9.15 per cent.

Staffordshire … … 2,066 1,941 125 or 6.05 per cent.

Suffolk … … 1,087 1,010 77 or 7.08 per cent.

Surrey … … 1,503 1,457 46 or 3.06 per cent.

Sussex … … 2,799 2,648 151 or 5.39 per cent.

Thames Valley … … 2,996 2,651 345 or 11.51 per cent.

Warwickshire … … 876 849 27 or 3.08 per cent.

West Mercia … … 1,671 1,620 51 or 3.05 per cent.

West Midlands … … 6,509 5,748 761 or 11.69 per cent.

West Yorkshire … … 5,104 4,588 516 or 10.10 per cent.

Wiltshire … … 995 962 33 or 3.31 per cent.

City of London … … 1,022 821 201 or 19.66 per cent.

Metropolitan … … 26,628 21,859 4,769 or 17.90 per cent.

Force	Authorised Establishment	Strength for Ordinary Duty	Deficiency
Hertfordshire	…	…	1,483	1,471	12 or 0.80 per cent.
Humberside	…	…	1,939	1,786	153 or 7.89 per cent.
Kent	…	…	2,703	2,655	48 or 1.77 per cent.
Lancashire	…	…	3,080	3,040	40 or 1.29 per cent.
Leicestershire	…	…	1,705	1,631	74 or 4.34 per cent.
Lincolnshire	…	…	1,182	1,139	43 or 3.63 per cent.
Merseyside	…	…	4,451	4,235	216 or 4.85 per cent.
Norfolk	…	…	1,264	1,214	50 or 3.95 per cent.
Northamptonshire	…	…	950	876	74 or 7.78 per cent.
Northumbria	…	…	3,322	3,172	150 or 4.51 per cent.
North Wales	…	…	1,276	1,240	36 or 2.82 per cent.
North Yorkshire	…	…	1,328	1,269	59 or 4.44 per cent.
Nottinghamshire	…	…	2,144	2.064	80 or 3.73 per ecnt.
South Wales	…	…	3,069	2,870	199 or 6.48 per cent.
South Yorkshire	…	…	2,752	2,500	252 or 9.15 per cent.
Staffordshire	…	…	2,066	1,941	125 or 6.05 per cent.
Suffolk	…	…	1,087	1,010	77 or 7.08 per cent.
Surrey	…	…	1,503	1,457	46 or 3.06 per cent.
Sussex	…	…	2,799	2,648	151 or 5.39 per cent.
Thames Valley	…	…	2,996	2,651	345 or 11.51 per cent.
Warwickshire	…	…	876	849	27 or 3.08 per cent.
West Mercia	…	…	1,671	1,620	51 or 3.05 per cent.
West Midlands	…	…	6,509	5,748	761 or 11.69 per cent.
West Yorkshire	…	…	5,104	4,588	516 or 10.10 per cent.
Wiltshire	…	…	995	962	33 or 3.31 per cent.
City of London	…	…	1,022	821	201 or 19.66 per cent.
Metropolitan	…	…	26,628	21,859	4,769 or 17.90 per cent.