§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in the Colchester Police Division in September each year from 1995 to 1999; and if he will make a statement. [106557]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe information available, which is set out in the table, has been provided by the Chief Constable of Essex. The force is not able to provide figures for 1995 and 1996.
I understand that the reduction between 1997 and 1998 was partly due to the transfer of some posts from Divisional strength to Headquarters strength, although the officers concerned remained based in Colchester.
Essex Police—E Division, Colchester Year (as at 1 September) Number of police officers 1995 n/a 1996 n/a 1997 190 1998 180 1999 180
§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers there were in the Essex police force in each year from 1985 to 1999, giving figures on a quarterly basis from 1995 onwards; and if he will make a statement. [106548]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe information available is set out in the table. Since 1995, police numbers have been collected only twice a year—in March and September— so as to reduce administrative burdens on the police.
365W
Essex police numbers: 1985–99 Number of officers Year As at 31 March As at 30 September 1985 2,650 — 1986 2,666 — 1987 2,723 — 1988 2,728 — 1989 2,754 — 1990 2,822 — 1991 2,889 — 1992 2,898 — 1993 2,936 — 1994 2,937 — 1995 2,921 2,897 1996 2,884 2,927 1997 2,961 2,944 1998 2,929 2,903 1999 2,891 1— 1 Not yet available
§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional police officers he will agree can be added to his Department's authorised number employed by the Essex Police Authority as a result of the transfer on 1 April to the Essex Police Authority of that part of Essex currently policed by the Metropolitan Police. [106550]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeEach police force in England and Wales has a "notional establishment" of police officers for the purposes of allocating 10 per cent. of the police grant (most of the grant is allocated according to a needs-based funding formula). For the purposes of allocating the police grant in 2000–01, the notional establishment of Essex police was increased by 137 to take account of the enlargement of the Essex police area as a result of the change to the boundary of the Metropolitan police district on April 2000. This followed consultation with Essex police, Essex Police Authority and the Metropolitan police.
The actual numbers of police officers in the Essex police area following the boundary change will be a matter for the Chief Constable on the basis of the resources made available to him.
§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Metropolitan Police budget will be reduced from 1 April when that part of the County of Essex currently policed by the Metropolitan Police is transferred to the Essex Police Authority. [106547]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeFunding for the Metropolitan Police in 2000–01 will reduce by around £5.9 million over 1999–2000 levels to reflect the boundary change with Essex Police Authorities.
§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan Police officers will transfer to the Essex Police Authority from 1 April when that part of the County of Essex currently policed by the Metropolitan Police is transferred to the Essex Police Authority; how many will stay with the Metropolitan Police; and how many will retire. [106549]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Metropolitan Police Commissioner tells me that there is no fixed allocation of Metropolitan Police Officers to the area that is to be transferred from the Metropolitan Police District to Essex Police Authority from 1 April. As a result of the boundary change, 10 Metropolitan Police Officers will transfer to the Essex Police before 1 April and four afterwards.
In addition, 32 Metropolitan Police Officers are expected to be seconded to Essex Police on 1 April for up to 18 months, after which they will return to duties in the Metropolitan Police District. No Metropolitan Police officer is expected to retire as a consequence of the boundary change.
§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional funding he will give to Essex Police Authority in 2000–01 to police that part of the county which from 1 April is transferred from the Metropolitan police; and if this figure, indexed accordingly, will be built into the authority's base figure in future years. [106546]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe proposed funding allocation for the Essex Police Authority in 2000–01 will increase by 7.2 per cent., or £11.8 million, over 1999–2000 levels366W to £174.8 million. This increase is significantly above the national average increase of 2.8 per cent. as it takes into account the enlargement of the Essex police area as a result of the boundary changes with the Metropolitan police from 1 April 2000.
Funding allocations for the police service in England and Wales are made by means of a needs-based formula. Allocations for future years will reflect the Essex Police Authority's new boundaries from 1 April 2000.