§ Sir Norman FowlerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of police officers employed in(a) the National Crime Squad and (b) the National Criminal Intelligence Service as at 30 September 1998; if he will list the number of police officers employed at 30 September 1997 on a basis which permits a comparison with (a) and (b) above; and if he will make a statement. [79196]
§ Mr. BoatengThe information requested is set out in the table:
Number of police officers National Crime Squad National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) 30 September 1997 1,325 1253 30September 1998 1,344 238 1 Information on the number of police officers in NCIS for 30 September 1997 has been provided by the Director General The funding of the National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service will increase by 13.8 per cent. and 8.8 per cent. respectively in 1999–2000.
§ Sir Norman FowlerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the strength of police forces in England and Wales as recorded in March 1999; and if he will make a statement. [79195]
§ Mr. BoatengThis information will be collected in accordance with normal procedures. Once all the returns have been received from police forces and validated, the statistics will be placed in the Library. I expect this information to be available in early June, on the basis of last year's timetable.