HC Deb 04 July 1996 vol 280 c513W
16. Mr. Purchase

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of police officers per head of population(a) in Britain and (b) on average in the EU. [34532]

Mr. Hain

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of police officers per head of population in Britain; and what is the current EU average. [34538]

Mr. Kirkhope

In England and Wales, the ratio of police officers to population was one to 407 at March 1996. No comprehensive data are available from which an average for European Union countries could be calculated.

24. Mr. Mark Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to increase the number of police officers on the beat. [34541]

Mr. Kirkhope

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has promised sufficient resources for 5,000 more officers over the three years to 1998–99, specifically to enhance visible presence on the streets. We have started to give out funding for this. Also, providing high visibility policing so as to reassure the public is one of our key objectives for the police service.

27. Mr. David Martin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of police constables over the next three years. [34544]

Mr. Kirkhope

The Government are providing an additional £180 million in funding to enable chief constables in England and Wales to recruit 5,000 more constables over the three-year period from April 1996.