HC Deb 25 April 1996 vol 276 cc262-3W
Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the(a) strength and (b) cost of the Metropolitan police force (i) in 1979 and (ii) currently; and if he will make a statement. [25310]

Mr. Maclean

At the end of March, Metropolitan police strength, excluding officers seconded from the Metropolitan police, for example to regional crime squads and central service, was 27,342. I understand that the latest estimate for net revenue expenditure for 1995 –96 is £1,688.493 million. These figures compare with police strength of 22,168 as at 31 March 1979 and net revenue expenditure of £381.673 million in 1979 –80.