HC Deb 03 July 2002 vol 388 c436W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there are in(a) the Lancashire constabulary, and (b) the Ribble Valley constituency. [63529]

Mr. Denham

The information has been provided by the Chief Constable of Lancashire (Mrs. Pauline Clare, CBE). I am told that it is not possible to provide the number of police officers in the Ribble Valley as the constituency is split between the central and eastern divisions and these divisions each cover other areas as well as parts of the constituency. Police numbers for both divisions are provided.

The table sets out police and civilian support staff strength for the force and for the central and eastern divisions for 31 January 2002. Lancashire constabulary had 69 more officers in January than in March 1997 and strength was at record levels.

Number of police officers1 Number of civilian support staff1
Lancashire constabulary 3,316 21,409
Central division 47 125
Eastern division 544 179
1Strength figures are full-time equivalents
2Civilian staff numbers are the latest available and are as at 30 September 2001

Keith Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were employed in England and Wales as at 1 June. [64834]

Mr. Denham

The latest available information on police numbers is for 31 January 2002 when there were 128,748 officers. This is 3,066 more than in March 2001 and is a record number of police officers.

The increase in police strength reflects the impact of the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF), which is enabling forces in England and Wales to recruit 9,000 officers over and above previous recruitment plans in the three years to March 2003.