HC Deb 10 June 2002 vol 386 cc807-8W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in Greater London have less than two years' experience, broken down by borough; and if he will make a statement. [58560]

Mr. Denham

The information requested has been provided by the Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis (Sir John Stevens QPM) and for the City of London Police (Mr. Perry Nove QPM) and is given in the table.

In the Metropolitan police probationers formed 14 per cent. of borough strength. In the City of London police probationers formed 14.8 per cent. of the force's total strength.

Police force performance does not depend solely upon the number of experienced officers available. The proposals in the White Paper "Policing a New Century: A blueprint for Reform" set out a radical and ambitious programme of reform, with the overall aim of reducing crime and the fear of crime and to tackle antisocial behaviour. The test of success will be whether the measures being put in place will make a real difference to the quality of life of individuals and communities up and down the country.

The public have a right to expect the same high standards of service wherever they live and the Government propose to put a framework in place to ensure that all police forces come up to the standard of the best.

Officers with less than 2 years experience as at 30 April 2002
Metropolitan police, by borough Number
Kensington and Chelsea 78
Westminster 225
Camden 107
Hammersmith and Fulham 79
Hackney 94
Tower Hamlets 100
Waltham Forest 62
Redbridge 61
Havering 52
Newham 91
Barking and Dagenham 30
Lambeth 117
Southwark 95
Islington 94
Lewisham 92
Bromley 58
Harrow 46
Brent 96
Greenwich 88
Bexley 51
Barnet 79
Richmond upon Thames 35
Hounslow 51
Kingston upon Thames 36
Merton 40
Wandsworth 104
Ealing 90
Hillingdon 46
Enfield 72
Haringey 85
Croydon 94
Sutton 36
Metropolitan police total 2,484
City of London police1 114
1 As at 1 May 2002

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many trainee Metropolitan police officers are housed in non-police force accommodation; what accommodation is being used; and if he will +make a statement. [58558]

Mr. Denham

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan police informs me that all recruits currently undergoing training in the Metropolitan police recruit training school are housed in police accommodation.