Mr. John Mark Taylorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek from the appropriate chief constables and if he will publish the current police manning figures expressed in population per capita for the police divisions most approximate to the boundaries of the cities of Oxford, Exeter, Norwich, Carlisle and Peterborough.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI understand from the chief constables concerned that the population per police officer in these areas is as follows:
Population per police officer Oxford 1 : 399 Exeter 1 : 611 Norwich 1 : 585 Carlisle 1 : 583 Peterborough 1 : 596
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent request he has received from (a) the chief constable of Leicestershire police and (b) other police forces in the midlands for an increase in police establishment; and what were the reasons cited for their requests.
§ Mr. Giles ShawWe have not received an application recently from the Leicestershire police authority for an increase in the authorised establishment of the force.
The following four police authorities in the midlands have applied for increases totalling 140 in their authorised establishments for the financial year 1985–86 or later, mainly for uniformed patrol duties, including the policing of motorways. Eighty-eight additional posts have so far been approved for three of these forces. A decision will be made later on the remaining application.
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Police authority/force Increase applied for Increase approved Northamptonshire 29 29 Staffordshire *52 — Warwickshire 29 29 West Mercia 30 30 * Further consideration will be given later to this application.