§ Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics he collates on the average number of police officers(a) at headquarters establishments and (b) per 1,000 population. [28669]
§ Mr. DenhamHer Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary collects data once a year about the allocation of officers. The Inspectorate's data record officers attached to Basic Command Units and to central functions. Central functions include specialist police squads as well as headquarters support functions and the officers performing central functions may be located at a number of sites.
At the end of March 2001 (latest date for which data are available), 30,928 police officers (25 per cent. of total force strength) were deployed to central functions.
Information on the number of police officers to population is published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletins "Police Service Strength: England and Wales". The latest bulletin (No. 23–01), was published on 18 December 2001 and shows that in England and Wales the number of officers per 100,000 population at 30 September 2001 was 240.3. A copy of the bulletin is in the Library.