HC Deb 10 March 1987 vol 112 cc124-5W
Mr. Richard Page

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reached decisions on the applications from police authorities for increases in police force establishments of provincial forces in the next financial year 1987–88.

Mr. Hurd

I have approved 209 additional police posts for the following nine provincial police forces with effect from 1 April 1987.

Police authority/force Increase approved
Avon and Somerset 10
Cambridgeshire 20
Devon and Cornwall 20
Dorset 9
Northamptonshire 20
Staffordshire 25

Police authority/force Increase approved
Sussex 66
Warwickshire 14
Wiltshire 25
209

With the 98 additional police posts approved previously for three forces with effect from 1 April 1987 (eight for Cumbria, 40 for Northumbria and 50 for Thames Valley), increases totalling 307 police posts have so far been approved in provincial forces for the next financial year, 1987–88. Four other police authorities have been informed that I am prepared to approve increases totalling 141 police posts provided that they are able to give assurances about local financial provision for these additional posts in 1987–88.