§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received over the future use of motor-cycles by the Essex Police Force; and if he will make a statement; [71038]
(2) if he will make a special grant to the Essex Police Force to enable the mounted section to be retained; [71041]
(3) what representations he has received over the future of the mounted section of the Essex Police Force; [71039]
(4) if he will make additional grants to the Essex Police Force to prevent cuts in services; and if he will make a statement. [71040]
§ Mr. BoatengFunding of Essex Police in 1999–2000 will increase by £4.6 million (2.9 per cent.) to £163 million. This increase is above the national average. The allocation of resources within the Essex Police is a matter for the Chief Constable and the police authority, as are the use of motorcycles and the mounted section.
I received one representation from the Essex Police Authority about the proposed funding settlement for 1999–2000, which included reference to the consequences of the settlement for the mounted section and the future use of motorcycles by the Essex Police. I understand from the Chief Constable that his proposal to disband the mounted section is based upon their limited operational contribution to the modern day to day policing of Essex. Similarly, the continued use of motorcycles is under consideration as part of the force's drive for improved efficiency.
§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were serving in the Essex Police Force on 31 December(a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998; and what is the projected figure for 1999 excluding officers in that part of the Metropolitan Police area to be transferred to Essex. [71037]
§ Mr. BoatengInformation on police numbers is collected at the end of March and September. The figures for the period requested are set out in the table.
Total officer strength 30 September 1992 2,929 30 September 1997 2,944 30 September 1998 2,903 Ministers have no direct control over police numbers. Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994, it is for the individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in their force, on the basis of the resources made available to them. It is not, therefore, possible to provide a projection of the force's strength for 1999.