§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide funds to increase police numbers in Hampshire. [30952]
§ Mr. DenhamUnder the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) recruitment initiative, funds have been provided to enable Hampshire constabulary to recruit a total of 243 recruits, over and above the force's previous recruitment plans, for the three years to March 2003.
Hampshire officers appointed since 1 September 1994 and not in receipt of housing allowances, benefit from a new allowance introduced 1 April 2001 for officers in eight forces around London, in view of the higher cost of living in those force areas. The allowance followed agreement in the Police Negotiating Board and for Hampshire officers is £1,000 a year. The Home Office meets 75 per cent, of the cost of the allowance for each qualifying officer.
All police forces, including Hampshire, benefit from the national recruitment advertising campaign funded by the Home Office. The campaign was launched in August 2000 and the latest phase began on 1 January 2002.