HC Deb 15 July 1999 vol 335 cc322-4W
Mr. Derek Twigg

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answers of 30 June 1999,Official Report, columns 183–85, concerning provisional police manpower figures for March, if he will publish for each police authority in England and Wales (a) validated figures showing the number of officers in each force as at 31 March, (b) the changes since March 1998, (c) the percentage changes in their budget and in the numbers of officers between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999 and (d) the overall number of police officers and civilian support staff at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement. [91904]

Mr. Straw

The information requested is set out in the tables.

The total number of police officers in England and Wales at 31 March, taking account of officers seconded outside of their forces, was 126,096. This represents a reduction of 677 officers (0.5 per cent.) since March 1998.

Between March 1992 and March 1999, the number of civilian support staff increased by 5,695 to 53,031.

Police numbers—change between March 1998 and March 1999
Force Strength as at 31 March 1999 Change since 31 March 1998
Avon and Somerset 2,999.3 +23.4
Bedfordshire 1,041.3 -37.2
Cambridgeshire 1,274.4 -17
Cheshire 2,070.6 +28.7
City of London 778.1 -46.8
Cleveland 1,415.6 -67.8
Cumbria 1,126 -37.5
Derbyshire 1,758.6 -13.6
Devon and Cornwall 2,887 -74.5
Dorset 1,279.1 -30.9
Durham 1,567.9 +53.1
Dyfed-Powys 1,026.3 +24
Essex 2,890.5 -38
Gloucestershire 1,104 —
Greater Manchester 6,809.9 -138.8
Gwent 1,247.1 +14.3
Hampshire 3,473.4 -16.1
Hertfordshire 1,723.7 -16.2
Humberside 1,974.4 -46.8
Kent 3,200.8 -50
Police number—change between March 1998 and March 1999
Force Strength as at 31 March 1999 Change since 31 March 1998
Lancashire 3,244.8 -12.3
Leicestershire 1,993.2 +10.1
Lincolnshire 1,139.6 -51.5
Merseyside 4,211 -5.4
Metropolitan Police 26,073.1 -20.7
Norfolk 1,381.4 -48.2
Northamptonshire 1,137.5 -31.2
Northumbria 3,840.2 +71.5
North Wales 1,391 -5
North Yorkshire 1,336.5 -30.7
Nottinghamshire 2,224.6 -98
South Wales 2,981.4 -4.8
South Yorkshire 3,168 -14
Staffordshire 2,237.6 -54.5
Suffolk 1,190.2 +4.4
Surrey 1,661.9 +53.5
Sussex 2,846.8 -107.9
Thames Valley 3,748.1 -27.4
Warwickshire 907.7 -16.4
West Mercia 2,024.7 +15.1
West Midlands 7,320.8 +165.3
West Yorkshire 4,982 -172.7
Wiltshire 1,151 -5.3
Force total strength 123,841 -873.8
Police numbers—comparison between percentage change in numbers and changes in budgets for 1998–99
Force Percentage change in police numbers March 1998 to March 1999 Percentage change in budget 1997–98 to 1998–99
5–5.9 per cent. reduction in strength City of London -5.7 (-46.8) -7.3
4–4.9 per cent. reduction in strength
Cleveland -4.6 (-67.8) +5.1
Lincolnshire -4.3 (-51.5) + 1.1
Nottinghamshire -4.2 (-98) +3.8
3–3.9 per cent, reduction in strength
Bedfordshire -3.4 (-37.2) +3.8
Cumbria -3.2 (-37.5) +3.7
Norfolk -3.4 (-48.2) +3.8
Sussex -3.7 (-107.9) +3.8
West Yorkshire -3.4 (-172.7) +3.8
2–2.9 per cent, reduction in strength
Devon and Cornwall -2.5 (-74.5) +4.5
Dorset -2.4 (-30.9) +3.7
Greater Manchester -2 (-138.8) +3.8
Humberside -2.3 (-46.8) +3.8
Northamptonshire -2.7 (-31.2) +3.7
North Yorkshire -2.2 (-30.7) +4.0
Staffordshire -2.4 (-54.5) +3.7
0–1.9 per cent, reduction in strength
Cambridgeshire -1.3 (-17) +3.8
Derbyshire -0.8 (-13.6) +3.8
Essex -1.3 (-38) +3.7
Hampshire -0.5 (-16.1) +3.8
Hertfordshire -0.9 (-16.2) +3.8
Kent -1.5 (-50) +4.4
Lancashire -0.4 (-12.3) +3.8
Metropolitan Police -0.08 (-20.7) +3.7
Merseyside -0.13 (-5.4) +3.8
North Wales -0.4 (-5) +3.8
South Wales -0.2 (-4.8) +3.8
Police numbers—comparison between percentage change in numbers and changes in budgets for 1998–99
Force Percentage change in change in police numbers March 1998 to March 1999 Percentage change in budget 1997– to 1998–99
South Yorkshire -0.4 (-14) +3.8
Thames Valley -0.7 (-27.4) +3.8
Warwickshire -1.8 (-16.4) +3.7
Wiltshire -0.5 (-5.3) +3.7
Forces with increases in police numbers
Gloucestershire +0.02 (+0.2) +3.8
Avon and Somerset +0.8 (+23.4) +3.8
Cheshire +1.4 (+28.7) +3.8
Durham +3.5 (+53.1) +4.9
Dyfed-Powys +2.4 (+24) +3.8
Gwent +1.2 (+14.3) +3.8
Leicestershire +0.5 (+10.1) +3.8
Northumbria +1.9 (+71.5) +4.7
Suffolk +0.4 (+4.4) +3.8
Surrey +3.3 (+53.5) -1.0
West Mercia +0.75 (+15.1) +3.8
West Midlands +2.3 (+165.3) +3.8
Overall totals -0.7 (-873.8) +3.7