§ Mr. StunellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there were for police officers in the Greater Manchester Constabulary in(a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001. [156182]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe available information is set out in the table. It compares the actual number of officers in post with the police authority's budgeted provision. Information on budgeted figures has been provided, where available, by the Chief Constable.
Greater Manchester Police Year Budgeted police numbers Actual police numbers1 Vacancies 31 March 1992 7,057 7,061 0 31 March 1997 2n/a 6,922 n/k 31 January 20013 46,935 6,867 68 1 Before 1 April 1955 actual police numbers were based on a headcount. Since April 1995 they have been counted on a full-time equivalent basis. 2 The Greater Manchester Police budgeted figure for March 1997 was based on a headcount of 7,050. It is not therefore comparable to the actual figure which is based on full-time equivalents. 3 Latest available published figures are currently those for 31 January 2001. 4 The figures for January 2001 include the force's Crime Fighting Fund allocation. I understand from the Greater Manchester Police that the vacancies at 31 January 2001 have now been filled.