HC Deb 26 February 1987 vol 111 c341W
Mr. Hirst

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of serving police officers in England and Wales at the latest available date; and what was the comparable number in May 1979.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

There were 121,550 police officers in England and Wales on 31 December 1986 and 111,493 in May 1979. This is an increase of 10,057 since May 1979.