§ Mr. StevensonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the chief constable on police numbers in Staffordshire. [10289]
§ Mr. DenhamI have not had any discussions with the chief constable about police numbers in Staffordshire.
On 31 August, Staffordshire police had 2,212 officers, 83 more than in March 2001. The force had 935 civilian support staff at March 2001; this is an increase of 173 since March 1997 and 77 since March 2000.
Under the crime fighting fund (CFF) recruitment initiative, Staffordshire police have been allocated a total of 146 additional recruits, over and above their existing recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003.
In 2000–01, Staffordshire police recruited all 49 of their CFF allocation. The force expects to recruit all its second year CFF allocation of 51 in 2001–02. Staffordshire has been allocated a further 46 CFF recruits in 2002–03.