§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of(a) operational police officers and (b) total staff employed by the Dorset Police Authority in (i) May 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available. [135535]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeInformation on operational police numbers is collected in March of each year by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. Total staffing numbers are collected twice a year in March and September. The latest available information in both cases are those for March 2000.
The information is set out in the table.
Dorset Police Year (as at 31 March) 1997 2000 Total number of operational police officers 1,081 1,223 Total police numbers 1,284 1,306 Total number of civilian staff' 615 686 Total number of staff employed 1,899 1,992 1 excludes traffic wardens Between March 1997 and March 2000 the number of operational police officers in the Dorset Police increased by 13 per cent. The total increase in police service personnel for the same period was nearly 5 per cent.