HC Deb 02 February 1993 vol 218 cc122-4W
Mr. Sweeney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the changes effected by police forces in England and Wales to the recommendations made in each of the Audit Commission police papers published since 1988; and if he will give details of the main changes implemented by the police service.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The 11 reports which have been published so far are addressed primarily to police authorities and police forces and offer thematic guidance for auditors who review the work of the authorities.

Many of the changes recommended in the reports have been introduced by forces. They are also actively promoted in forces by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary and progress in implementation is reflected in published inspectorate reports.

Main changes include:

  1. (a) Increased use of civilians which has released officers for operation duties;
  2. (b) The implementation of a standing offers scheme for the purchasing of police vehicles which has identified substantial savings;
  3. (c) Improvements to police communications rooms through: further civilianisation, more flexible shifts, better technology and increased centralisation;
  4. (d) Introduction of enhanced performance measures including activity sampling;

Number of Graduates in police in England and wales in 1981 and 1991
Force 1981 graduates 1981 strength Percentage 1991 graduates 1991 strength Percentage 1991 graduate appointments
Avon and Somerset 89 3,066 2.9 225 3,072 7.3 13
Bedfordshire 10 995 1.0 42 1,090 3.9 3
Cambridgeshire 30 1,135 2.6 75 1,239 6.1 4
Cheshire 37 1,875 2.0 117 1,867 6.3 1
City of London 11 878 1.3 54 809 6.7 7
Cleveland 29 1,497 1.9 81 1,477 5.5 3
Cumbria 32 1,135 2.8 66 1,183 5.6 6
Derbyshire 35 1,805 1.9 109 1,706 6.4 0
Devon and Cornwall 58 2,736 2.1 181 2,876 6.3 15
Dorset 11 1,191 0.9 47 1,280 3.7 4
Durham 24 1,387 1.7 100 1,378 7.3 5
Dyfed Powys 15 943 1.6 45 944 4.8 5
Essex 37 2,653 1.4 115 2,878 4.0 4
Gloucestershire 19 1,144 1.7 62 1,178 5.3 4
Greater Manchester 159 7,010 2.3 535 6,975 7.7 21
Gwent 15 982 1.5 54 995 5.4 1
Hampshire 46 3,093 1.5 198 3,177 6.2 18
Hertfordshire 46 1,590 2.9 102 1,679 6.1 6
Humberside 34 1,985 1.7 112 2,016 5. 6
Kent 45 2,919 1.5 119 3,039 3.9 8
Lancashire 73 3,213 2.3 239 3,205 7.5 20
Leicestershire 39 1,749 2.2 97 1,808 5.4 8
Lincolnshire 16 1,199 1.3 57 1,198 4.8 5
Merseyside 107 4,748 2.3 323 4,605 7.0 23
Metropolitan 684 25,103 2.7 1,592 28,126 5.7 91
Norfolk 14 1,278 1.1 51 1,419 3.6 5
Northamptonshire 17 1,019 1.7 84 1,156 7.3 3
Northumbria 93 3,378 2.8 268 3,460 7.7 0
North Wales 17 1,309 1.3 89 1,343 6.6 4
North Yorkshire 27 1,370 2.0 79 1,382 5.7 14
Nottinghamshire 50 2,295 2.2 180 2,334 7.7 14
South Wales 59 3,132 1.9 228 3,142 7.3 12
South Yorkshire 61 2,922 2.1 158 2,989 5.3 3
Staffordshire 25 2,122 1.2 89 2,185 4.1 2
Suffolk 13 1,126 1.2 45 1,203 3.7 5
Surrey 36 1,620 2.2 97 1,681 5.8 8
Sussex 76 2,869 2.6 192 2,969 6.5 15
Thames Valley 63 3,131 2.0 216 3,722 5.8 17
Warwickshire 23 943 2.4 74 1,005 7.4 2
West Mercia 18 1,959 0.9 114 2,028 5.6 7
West Midlands 180 6,792 2.7 479 6,893 6.9 42
West Yorkshire 127 5,210 2.4 342 5,143 6.6 2
Wiltshire 13 1,071 1.2 52 1,212 4.3 5
Totals 2,613 119,577 2.2 7,584 125,066 6.1 441
(e) Improved management structures—more than three quarters of all forces have undergone, or are in the process of carrying out reviews of their management structures, including shift systems.