§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in the Avon and Somerset police force for each reporting period since 1980; what forecasts he has made for the years 2001 to 2004; and if he will make a statement. [1373]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 4 July 2001]Information on police numbers for each year since March 1980 is in the table.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary had 2,960 officers on 31 March 2001, 26 more than on 31 March 2000.
The Chief Constable informs me that on the basis of its current projections up to March 2003, the force expects to have 3,098 officers by the end of March 2002 and 3,175 by March 2003. About 60 per cent. of the total increase will be 417W a result of the force's Crime Fighting Fund allocation of resources for 51 new recruits for 2001–02 and 77 for 2002–03. The force has made no projections as yet for 2003–04.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary—police numbers since 1980 Year1 Police numbers 1980 2,892 1981 2,953 1982 3,011 1983 2,970 1984 2,997 1985 2,982 1986 2,958 1987 3,009 1988 3,013 1989 3,014 1990 3,094 1991 3,092 1992 3,081 1993 3,068 1994 3,033 1995 3,000 1996 2,981 1997 2,989 1998 2,976 1999 2,999 2000 2,934 2001 2,960 1 As at 31 March