§ Miss KirkbrideTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of the West Mercia Police Force police officer posts for 1998–99 were vacant at the latest available date; and what was the average length of such vacancies. [77324]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 18 March 1999]: It is for the Chief Constable to determine the number of police officers in the force, within the resources available. I understand from the Acting Chief Constable of West Mercia that there are 2,063 budgeted posts in the force. On 1 March the force had 52 full-time equivalent vacancies. The average number of vacancies in 1998–99 has been 45, which represents 2 per cent. of the budgeted posts available. It is not possible for the force to provide information on the average length of a vacancy during 1998–99.