HC Deb 09 December 1980 vol 995 c300W
Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the ratio of Metropolitan Police to population in the Metropolitan Police area in each year since the present establishment was fixed.

Mr. Brittan

The present establishment was set in 1979, but in the last 10 years the ratio of police officers to population on 31 December has been as follows:—

1970 1:385
1971 1:370
1972 1:368
1973 1:374
1974 1:367
1975 1:358
1976 1:337
1977 1:341
1978 1:339
1979 1:328