§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers the Metropolitan Police will have by the end of 2000–01; and what the figure was in 1997. [116789]
§ Mr. StrawIn March 1997, the Metropolitan Police Service had a strength of 27,166. In March of this year, estimated strength was 26,034. From 1 April, 474 Metropolitan Police officers are being seconded to county constabularies as a result of the boundary changes to the Metropolitan Police District, bringing total numbers to 25,556. The Commissioner intends to maintain overall numbers at around this level for the current financial year.
In addition, administrative changes made by the new Commissioner should have the effect of putting an extra 300 officers on the streets by the end of the financial year.