§ Lord Fearnasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there will be an increase in the number of police officers on the beat patrolling areas of Merseyside, and especially the town of Southport. [HL5323]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Government's Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) provides Merseyside Police with funding to recruit 332 officers over and 187WA above the force's existing plans between 2000–01 and 2002–03.
The CFF has assisted Merseyside Police in stabilising the previous decline in overall police numbers in the force which would otherwise have taken place as a result of the decline in the population sent by the force. There were 1,113 police officers in Merseyside as at 31 January 2002. This was 32 more than in March 2001.
Merseyside Police is split into five local authority areas, Sefton area covers Southport and has a complement of 450 police officers and 86 civilian support staff.
Figures collected by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary show that in 2000–01 the number of officers allocated to patrol duties was 2,313. However, the distribution of resources and deployment of officers within Merseyside is a matter for the chief constable of the force (Norman Bettison Esq QPM). I understand from the Chief Constable that the actual number of officers on duty in each neighbourhood varies hour by hour, as officers' shifts are planned to match resources as closely as possible to demand.