§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of the total Sussex police force are from ethnic minorities working as(a) working time equivalents and (b) civilian support staff; and what plans he has to increase this number. [83313]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 25 November 2002]: On 31 March 2002, the latest date for which figures are available there were 30 minority ethnic police officers in Sussex police. This represents 1.0 per cent, of the force's officer strength.
On the same date there were 27 minority ethnic civilian support staff, 1.3 per cent, of support staff strength.
Under the dismantling barriers initiative, each police force has a 10-year target indicating the size of the minority ethnic communities in their area and setting a figure for the overall increase in representation required given the current size of the force in order that the force is representative of the community it serves. The target for Sussex police by 2009 is 2.4 per cent.