HC Deb 18 January 2001 vol 361 cc358-9W
Miss Widdecombe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many constables in the Metropolitan police force there were at the end of September 2000; and if he will make a statement. [145947]

Mr. Charles Clarke

At the end of September 2000 there were 18,981 full-time equivalent constables in the Metropolitan police service. This accounts for 71 per cent. of the total strength of the force.

With funding from the crime fighting fund (CFF)— £454 million over the three years 2000–01 to 2002–03— forces will be able to recruit 9,000 police officers over and above the number they had otherwise planned to recruit in that period. 2,044 of the 9,000 have been allocated to the Metropolitan police—663 this year 699 in 2001–02 and 682 in 2002–03. All of these will enter the police service in the rank of constable.

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which(a) directorate and (b) sub division of the Metropolitan police the police officer whose liaison with a member of the jury caused the abandonment of a recent High Court trial serves; and if he will make a statement. [145536]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the officer is a Metropolitan police uniform constable in(a) the borough of Redbridge at (b) Ilford Police Station.