§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) funded and (b) actual police 850W officers were in post in each of the Welsh constabularies on (i) 31 March 1997 and (ii) the latest date for which figures are available. [154812]
§ Mr. Charles Clarke [holding answer 22 March 2001]The information requested is set out in the table. The figures for funded officers have been provided by the Chief Officers of Police of the four Welsh forces.
The Chief Constable of North Wales Police has devolved decisions on police numbers to divisional commanders and therefore cannot provide information on funded numbers. However, it is the policy of the force to replace all leavers with new recruits.
31 March 1997 31 January 2001 Actual Actual Funded number of Funded number of Force officers1 officers1 officers1 officers1 Dyfed-Powys 1,007 1,005 1,067 1,063 Gwent 1,241 1,243 1,270 1,265 North Wales n/a 1,369 n/a 1,432 South Wales 2,994 2,976 3,036 3,103 Total n/a 6,593 n/a 6,863 1All figures are full-time equivalents.