Police Recruitment and Retention

HC Deb 22 October 2001 vol 373 c71W

Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police retention and recruitment. [5157]

Mr. Denham

Police numbers rose to 125,519 at March 2001 following the largest single annual increase in police numbers since 1988–89. In the 12 months to 31 March forces recruited 64 per cent. more officers than the previous year. Wastage remains low compared with other occupations at under 5 per cent. of strength.

The upward trend in police numbers will continue as the impact of the crime fighting fund increases. We expect the total number of police officers to reach 128,000 by March 2002 and 130,000 by March 2004.