HC Deb 17 June 1992 vol 209 cc525-6W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of extra police posts that have been sought by each of the police authorities in Wales.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The four Welsh police authorities have made applications for increases in establishment for 1993–94, as follows:

Posts
Dyfed-Powys 75
Gwent 37
North Wales 58
South Wales 44

Authorised Establishments
Force 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93
Avon and Somerset 3,050 3,070 3,081 3,085 3,087
Bedfordshire 1,030 1,046 1,085 1,117 1,178
Cambridgeshire 1,180 1,198 1,209 1,231 1,241
Cheshire 1,860 1,868 1,889 1,900 1,920
Cleveland 1,474 1,489 1,502 1,502 1,502
Cumbria 1,144 1,156 1,175 1,183 1,187
Derbyshire 1,793 1,793 1,812 1,825 1,850
Devon and Cornwall 2,827 2,846 2,865 2,880 2,928
Dorset 1,235 1,257 1,272 1,287 1,302
Durham 1,357 1,375 1,378 1,389 1,389
Dyfed Powys 935 935 944 944 969
Essex 2,762 2,804 2,875 2,892 2,950
Gloucestershire 1,164 1,164 1,164 1,183 1,184
Greater Manchester 6,943 6,988 7,021 7,057 7,077
Gwent 995 1,007 1,009 1,009 1,010
Hampshire 3,128 3,148 3,175 3,202 3,269
Hertfordshire 1,631 1,651 1,669 1,680 1,684
Humberside 1,972 1,992 2,007 2,025 2,034
Kent 2,941 2,968 3,020 3,054 13,096
Lancashire 3,158 3,173 3,203 3,225 3,229
Leicestershire 1,733 1,760 1,814 1,827 1,853
Lincolnshire 1,183 1,183 1,198 1,206 1,206
Merseyside 4,679 4,701 4,701 4,706 4,706
Norfolk 1,338 1,362 1,409 1,421 1,446
Northamptonshire 1,106 1,121 1,142 1,167 1,190
Northumbria 3,483 3,514 3,560 3,586 3,613
North Wales 1,326 1,330 1,352 1,352 1,369
North Yorkshire 1,368 1,383 1,408 1,414 1,418
Nottinghamshire 2,294 2,318 2,344 2,344 2,344
South Wales 3,109 3,137 3,168 3,168 3,168
South Yorkshire 2,951 2,978 2,998 3,016 3,031
Staffordshire 2,166 2,188 2,203 2,211 2,215
South Wales 3,109 3,137 3,168 3,168 3,168
South Yorkshire 2,951 2,978 2,998 3,016 3,031
Staffordshire 2,166 2,188 2,203 2,211 2,215
Suffolk 1,186 1,186 1,205 1,216 1,233
Surrey 1,639 1,649 1,659 1,670 1,673
Sussex 2,923 2,940 2,964 2,982 3,014
Thames Valley 3,576 3,620 3,685 3,725 3,812
Warwickshire 981 992 1,008 1,016 1,020
West Mercia 1,963 1,991 2,024 2,024 2,053
West Midlands 6,754 6,830 6,895 6,958 6,977
West Yorkshire 5,227 5,259 5,281 5,295 5,295
Wiltshire 1,074 1,085 1,099 1,114 1,181
City of London 798 798 798 798 798
Metropolitan 28,115 28,415 28,412 28,322 28,322
1 The establishment of Kent will increase to 3,136 from 1 January 1993 when reimbursed posts for the Channel Tunnel are introduced.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the established number of full-time officers in each of the police authorities in each of the past five years; and what measures he proposes to enable police authorities to place more policemen on the beat.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The authorised establishments for each police force in England and Wales for the period 1988–89 to 1992–93 are set out in the table.

The Home Secretary attaches importance to increasing the numbers of officers on the beat, but recognises that this is one of many needs. Measures recommended to forces to improve operational deployment include civilianisation, which has enabled the release of 5,700 officers; streamlining of organisational structures; shedding unnecessary middle management; improvement of technical support; and the introduction of flexible shifts.