HC Deb 22 July 2002 vol 389 cc850-1W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time police officers there were in 1997 and each subsequent year in(a) Preston, (b) Blackburn, (c) the north west of England and (d) England; and how many there were in Lancashire in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999, and (iii) 2000. [40682]

Mr. Denham

Information on police numbers for each force in each year since 1997 for the north-west region is set out in the table.

North West region
Force 19971 19981 19991 20001 20011
Lancashire 3,247 3,257 3,245 3,179 3,255
Cheshire 2,046 2,042 2,071 2,011 2,002
Cumbria 1,144 1,164 1,126 1,084 1,048
Greater
Manchester 6,922 6,949 6,810 6,795 6,909
Merseyside 4,230 4,216 4,211 4,085 4,081
Total 17,588 17,216 17,463 17,154 17,296
England 118,459 118,139 117,195 115,324 116,549
1 As at 31 March.

Note:

Figures are for full-time equivalent strength.

I understand from the Chief Constable that Preston is part of Central (D) Division of Lancashire Constabulary and that Blackburn is part of Eastern (E) Division. It is not possible to separate police strength for Blackburn and Preston from divisional strength. Information for the strength of these divisions has been provided by the Chief Constable.

D and E Divisions police strength
Year1 D Division2 E Division2
1997 383 554
1998 382 552
1999 370 531
2000 380 543
2001 389 558
1 As at 31 March.
2 As at 31 January.

Note:

Figures are for full-time equivalent strength.