HC Deb 07 February 2001 vol 362 cc614-5W
Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the actual strength was of the Sussex Police for each quarter since 1995. [148355]

Mr. Charles Clarke

[holding answer 2 February 2001]: Information on police numbers for England and Wales are collected on a six-monthly basis (March and September). Six-monthly strength figures for the Sussex Police are set out in the table.

Sussex Police—numbers since March 1995
Year 31 March 30 September
1995 2,931 3,020
1996 3,074 3,097
1997 3,085 3,040
1998 2,996 2,924
1999 2,847 2,909
2000 2,822 2,812

Part of the reduction in police numbers since 1997 was a consequence of the Chief Constable's decision to civilianise a significant number of police posts. Between 31 March 1997 and 30 September 2000 the number of civilian support staff in the Sussex Police increased by 256 to 1,405.