HC Deb 06 July 1999 vol 334 c487W
Mr. Woolas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the cost of increasing police force strength by 6,000 officers. [89360]

Mr. Boateng

The estimated annual cost of 6,000 additional constables would be around £150 million.

Ministers have no direct control over police numbers. Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994, it is for individual chief constables to determine the numbers of officers in their forces on the basis of the resources made available to them.