§ Mr. PollardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the recruitment of police officers to the Hertfordshire Constabulary. [25304]
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§ Mr. DenhamUnder the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) recruitment initiative, Hertfordshire Constabulary has been allocated a total of 107 additional officers, over and above the force's previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003.
The force was unable to recruit any of its CFF allocation of 40 officers in 2000–01, but was allowed to carry-over the allocation into 2001–02. This carry-over brought the force's total allocation from the CFF for 2001–02 up to 70 officers. The force has asked to defer just five of its allocation for this year into 2002–03.
Hertfordshire officers appointed since 1 September 1994 and not in receipt of housing allowance benefit from an allowance made to officers serving in a number of forces in the south-east. This allowance is £2,000 per annum and has been payable since 1 April 2001.
All police forces, including Hertfordshire, benefit from the national recruitment advertising campaign. The campaign was launched in August 2000 and the latest phase began on 1 January 2002.