HC Deb 10 November 1999 vol 337 c590W
Mr. Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were(a) the total police strength, (b) the total number of officers available for ordinary duty and (c) the total number of constables for (i) each of the police forces in England and Wales and (ii) England and Wales as a whole on 31 March 1979 and on 31 March in each subsequent year to date. [97231]

Mr. Charles Clarke

[holding answer 4 November 1999]: Information in the form requested is readily available only for the years 1991 to 1999. Tables containing this information have been placed in the Library. The figures in the tables exclude all secondments (including National Criminal Intelligence Service, National Crime Squad, Central Services and Inter-Force units).

I will write to the hon. Member with information for the earlier years as soon as it is available.