HC Deb 24 January 1996 vol 270 c263W
Mr. Batiste

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of constables employed by the West Yorkshire police force currently; what the figures were in(a) 1990, (b) 1985 and (c) 1980; and what is the projected figure for 1999. [10733]

Mr. Maclean

The number of constables employed by West Yorkshire police in these years was:

  • (a) September 1980: 3,660
  • (b) September 1985: 3,739
  • (c) September 1990: 3,992
  • (d) September 19951: 3,961
1Latest date centrally available.

Between March and September 1995 the number of constables in the force increased by 89. The chief constable has also said that he expects overall police strength in West Yorkshire to increase by 135 in the year to March 1996. Projections for 1999 are a matter for the chief constable and police authority. However, West Yorkshire police's share of the extra funding being provided to recruit 5,000 additional officers nationally over three years is likely to be sufficient to enable 200 extra constables to be recruited by March 1999.