§ Mr. StevensonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police officers and (b) civilian staff were employed in Staffordshire Police Force in each year since 1979. [97767]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeInformation on police officer and civilian support staff strength is collected at the end of March and September. The figures for the period requested are set out in the table; all figures are for full-time equivalents.
Total Officer Strength1 Total Civilian Strength2 1979 1,978 589 1980 2,051 587 1981 2,096 623 1982 2,086 629 1983 2,080 639 1984 2,090 650 1985 2,066 665 1986 2,087 666 1987 2,113 670 1988 2,135 677 1989 2,164 651 1990 2,187 692 1991 2,217 749 1992 2,176 736 1993 2,179 734 1994 2,208 3— 1995 2,231 749 1996 2,209 754 1997 2,211 763 1998 2,292 866 1999 2,238 1,044 1 Figures are as at 31 March 2 As at 31 December. Figures for 1995 onwards are as at 31 March 3 Not available The powers of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to set police establishment levels for each force were removed under the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994. It is for the chief officer to determine staffing requirements within the overall resources available. This year, Staffordshire Police Authority has set a budget that will allow the force to spend up to £122.2 million—an increase of £3.3 million or 2.7 per cent. over 1998–99.
588WThis increase, along with the two per cent. efficiency improvements that have been set, should be sufficient for the force to maintain levels of service.
Future staffing levels are for the Chief Constable to determine within the overall resources available. However, the Government are making available additional resources, in a new ring-fenced Crime Fighting Fund, to enable the police to recruit 5,000 officers, over and above those that had otherwise planned to recruit over the next three years. Staffordshire Police will be able to apply for a share of this funding.