§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the estimated required number of police personnel for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as calculated by the police authority and what is the current level approved by the Government.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)Approval of increases in police establishment take account of a formula showing the level of provision between forces in relative terms. The Government do not set levels of absolute need. The Hampshire police authority's assessment is that the force needs a further 223 officers. It has made an application for 69 of these in 1993/94. This will be considered, with advice from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, together with the applications we have received from other police authorities. Decisions on future increases are usually announced in the autumn. The force sought 69 extra posts in 1992/93. The Government approved 67 additional police posts from 1st April 1992, meeting 97 per cent. of Hampshire's application and providing for an establishment of 3,269.