§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) police officers and (b) constables there will be in (i) the Colchester Division and (ii) the Tendering Division of the Essex Constabulary on 31 March; and what were the equivalent figures for the same date in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; [113108]
554W(2) how many (a) police officers and (b) constables there will be in the Essex Constabulary at the time when the new boundaries for the Metropolitan police come into force; and if he will provide the equivalent figures for the same enlarged area for 31 March in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [113111]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe information has been provided by the Chief Constable of Essex. I understand that the force is only able to provide figures as at 1 March for each year for the number of officers in the Colchester and Tendering Divisions. These are set out in the tables.
Ministers have no direct control over police numbers. Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in their forces within the resources that are available. It is not, therefore, possible for us to estimate how many officers Essex would have had if the boundary changes had been implemented in earlier years. I understand from the Chief Constable that for 2000–01 it is estimated that the Essex Police will have 2,995 police officers (115 more than on 1 March 2000) following the boundary changes on 1 April; 2,307 out of this total will be constables (90 more than on 1 March 2000).
I understand from the Chief Constable that the reduction in police numbers in Colchester and Tendering Divisions is a result of centralisation of the force information room and 555W the civilianisation of non-operational police posts. This has contributed to an increase in the number of operational officers that are available.
Colchester Division Year (as at 1 March) Total police numbers Constable numbers 1997 185 146 1998 187 147 1999 179 141 2000 167 128
Tendering Division Year (as at 1 March) Total police numbers Constable numbers 1997 199 152 1998 195 151 1999 202 156 2000 175 136
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what areas are to be transferred from the Metropolitan Police to the Essex Police. [113106]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeOn 1 April 2000, the responsibility for policing the part of Epping Forest District currently policed by the Metropolitan Police Service will transfer to the Essex Police. This area is defined in legislation as the parish of Waltham Abbey and the area of the former urban district of Chigwell. It includes Waltham Abbey, Chigwell, Loughton and Buckhurst Hill.