§ 22. Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police numbers in Somerset. [109776]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthPolice numbers in Avon and Somerset are at record strength. On 30 September 2002 the force had 3,119 police officers, 78 more than in September 2001. In March 2002 the force had 1,611 civilian support staff, 159 more than in March 2001.
I also understand from the Chief Constable that the force has recruited 12 Community Support Officers.
§ 23. Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what priority the Home Office attaches to rural policing. [109777]
§ Hilary BennWe are very aware of the differing needs of police forces that cover predominantly rural areas. Following the consultation on the Police Funding Formula last summer my right hon. Friend the Home202W Secretary decided to retain the £30 million Rural Policing Fund in its present form. Police forces that cover most sparsely populated areas continue to benefit from additional funding through this fund.
§ 25. Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions are open to him upon receipt of reports of HM Inspector of Police. [109779]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthHer Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary prepares reports on inspections of forces, Basic Command Units, Best Value Reviews and other aspects of police performance and efficiency. Those may be used by the force, the Police Authority and the Home Office to improve performance.
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by the Metropolitan Police on rental vehicles in the last 12 months. [107300]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that final figures are not yet available, but estimated expenditure on the hiring of vehicles for the whole of the Metropolitan Police Service for the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 is approximately £7 million.
§ Mr. GoodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral Answer of 2 December 2002,Official Report, column 500, on police, what discussions he has had with the Thames Valley police force in relation to housing. [108588]
§ Mr. Bob Ainsworth[holding answer 10 April 2003]: We have been working closely with Chief Constables and Police Authorities from a consortium of London and south east forces, including Thames Valley, to address retention problems.
On 13 March we announced a package of measures including the allocation of £3.7 million of capital grant to Thames Valley police to provide housing assistance for officers.
This package was welcomed by the consortium of forces and we shall continue to work with them to monitor the effectiveness of these measures and to consider any further steps that may be necessary.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many facilities have on-going arrangements for levy payments for police coverage, with particular reference to airports. [109387]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThis information is not in general collected. I understand that those airports which are designated under s25 of the Aviation Security Act 1982 have agreed Service Level Agreements with their local police force in respect of policing provision and their obligation under s26(3) of the Act to meet the cost. The current arrangements for designation are under review following recommendations made in Sir John Wheeler's Report on Airport Security.
Where special police services are needed at other airports, sporting events and other events (such as pop concerts) the Police Authority and the Chief Officer of 203W Police would negotiate an agreement and charge for the special police service in accordance with the charging provisions of s25 of the Police Act 1996.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide private sector funding for police forces. [109388]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthPolice authorities can submit proposals for capital projects for support through the Government's Private Finance Initiative, which encourages a partnership approach with the private sector to the delivery of public services.
Section 18 of the Police Act 1996 allows police authorities to enter into agreements to supply certain goods and services.
Section 25 of the Act charge allows authorities to charge for 'special police services'.
Section 93 of the Act also provides that a police authority may, in connection with the discharge of any of its functions, accept gifts of money, and gifts or loans of other property, including commercial sponsorship.
§ Mr. Kevan JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers additional to the complement on 1 May 1997 were appointed to the Durham constabulary in each year since 1997. [108600]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe information is set out in the table. Police strength details are not collected in May.
Year1 Police strength
Increase in strength
Civilian support
staff
strength
Increase in civilian
strength
1997 1,461 — 583 — 1998 1,515 +54 557 -26 1999 1,568 +53 559 +2 2000 1,558 -10 590 +31 2001 1,595 +37 566 -24 2002 1,614 +19 660 +94 20022 1,655 +41 3— — 1 At 31 March 2 30 September 3 Not available Durham Constabulary has a record number of police officers. The net increase in force strength since March 1997 is 194 officers, or 13.3 per cent. which is nearly four times the average increase for England and Wales (3.4 per cent.) over the same period.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations manned(a) 24 hours a day and (b) part-time have (i) opened and (ii) closed in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [91674]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthInformation in this format is not held centrally.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations have(a) opened and (b) closed in (i) West Sussex and (ii) the United Kingdom in each of the past five years. [92690]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe Chief Constable of Sussex informs me that there are 15 police stations in West Sussex. This figure has remained the same for the past204W five years. No police stations have opened/closed during this time. A new police station will open in Selsey around April 2003.
Information on the number of police stations opened and closed in the United Kingdom is not available centrally.
The Secretary of State is not responsible for policing in Scotland or Northern Ireland.