HC Deb 26 April 1988 vol 132 cc84-5W
Mr. John

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of police officers in service in England and Wales at the beginning of each decade; and what proportion of police officers to population this represented.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The information conveniently available, save that for 1987, is taken from reports of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and is as follows:

Position at Authorised Establishment Population Police/Population Ratio
29 September 1929 157,677 37,884,950 1:657
29 September 1939 163,228 39,950,637 1:632
Position at Authorised Establishment Population Police/Population Ratio
30 September 1949 71,827 42,750,000 1:595
31 December 1959 78,711 45,386,000 1:577
31 December 1969 107,934 48,826,000 1:452
31 December 1979 118,322 48,970,000 1:414
31 December 1987 122,648 50,079,000 1:408
1 Does not include women officers.

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