§ 30. Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the level of police recruitment. [643]
§ Mr. DenhamFollowing the introduction of the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) in April 2000, there has already been a significant rise in police recruitment. Forces recruited 7,415 officers during the year to 31 March 2001, 64 per cent. more than the previous year.
About 2,800 recruits were funded by the CFF in 2000–01. Forces will be able to recruit about 3,200 CFF officers this year and a further 3,000 in 2002–03.
Given forces' recruitment plans and projections of wastage, we expect police strength to reach at least 128,000 officers by March 2002 and record numbers by March 2003.
56WTo help forces meet their recruitment targets the first National Recruitment Campaign was launched in August 2000.
By 1 May 2001, the campaign had generated over 147,000 responses and over 30,000 expressions of interest had been forwarded to police forces. A further phase of the campaign is planned for the end of the summer.
Bids covering a number of police force areas have proceeded to Stage Two of the bidding round of the Government's Starter Home Initiative under which £250 million will be made available over the next three years to help key workers purchase homes.
We are reviewing entry requirements for the Police Service to ensure consistency across forces and a good supply of quality candidates.