§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of police posts civilianised in each of the past three years for (a) the Metropolitan police area and (b) all other force areas where such information is available without incurring such disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles Shaw[pursuant to his reply, 23 January 1986, c. 275]: The Commissioner estimates that 91 Metropolitan police officers were freed for operational duties by civilianisation of the posts they held in the financial year 1983–84; and a further 119 in 1984–85. Estimates for other police forces in England and Wales are that some 460 officers were freed for operational duties by the recruitment of additional civilians in each of the financial years 1983–84 and 1984–85.
Comparable information for 1982–83 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.