HL Deb 26 July 1985 vol 466 c1538WA
Lord Harris of Greenwich

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What increases in police establishments the Home Secretary proposes to authorise following his announcement of increased manpower for regional crime squads; and

What is the establishment, and present strength, of each regional crime squad in England and Wales; and what will be the strength of each squad following the Home Secretary's announcement of increased resources to counter the growth of drug trafficking.

Baroness Cox

On 30th June 1985 the authorised establishments and strengths of regional crime squads in England and Wales were as follows:—

Squad Number and Region Authorised Establishment Strength
1. North West 183 181
2. North East 74 74
3. Yorkshire/East Midlands 141 132
4. West Midlands 118 119
5. Home Counties (North) 116 116
6. South East 94 95
7. South West 87 87
8. South Wales 44 45
9. London 54 51

I envisage an increase of more than 200 posts. The precise distribution will depend on the applications for increases in establishment which I receive from the police authority committee for each squad.