§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving constables there were in the Essex police force(a) in 1997 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available. [6226]
§ Mr. DenhamInformation on police numbers is collected twice a year on 31 March and 30 September. The Essex police had 2,269 constables on 31 March 1997 and 2,234 constables on 31 March 2001.
The Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) is providing Essex police with 197 CFF posts over the three-year period 2000–01 to 2002–03. Essex police plan to recruit 132 CFF posts this year. All these will be constables.
Essex police employed 1,199 civilian staff in March 1997 and 1,447 in March 2001.