§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken to improve the efficiency of the police since 1997, with particular reference to information and communication technology; and if he will make a statement. [161790]
§ Ms BlearsThe Government wants to ensure that police resources are used efficiently as well as effectively. A target for annual efficiency gains by the police service of 2 per cent. has been in place since 1999–2000 and has been achieved in each year up to 2002–03, the last year for which figures are available. The efficiency target will be examined during the Spending Review 2004.
795WSince 1999–2000 police authorities have been required to include efficiency plans in their annual policing plans. Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary assesses performance in relation to the efficiency plans.
Help to improve efficiency has been provided through:
the work of Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Police Standards Unit;the introduction of Community Support Officers and empowered police staff, to help police officers concentrate on the tasks they are best suited and trained to undertake;measures to reduce bureaucracy identified by the taskforce led by Sir David O'Dowd;and by the introduction of the Policing Performance Assessment Framework.Technology can play a significant role in reducing the burden of bureaucracy and in increasing efficiency.
The Home Office Science and Technology Strategy links together all of the individual strategies underway or planned in the Home Office and which contain Science and Technology strands.
This includes the Criminal Justice System (CJS) Strategic Plan for joint planning across the whole of the CJS by the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Attorney General's Office. The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) was established from 1 April 1998 as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) to provide a national capability for information technology and communications solutions to the police service.
There has been central investment through PITO in key national projects over the last six years including Airwave the new digital police radio system, the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), applications Supporting the National Strategy for Police Information Systems (NSPIS) and the development of the police-public interface.
Forces are also able to use central funding provided through police and other grants to make local investments in IT and have direct access to funding streams such as the Invest to Save Budget.
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on(a) the recruitment of police officers, (b) the recruitment of graduates to work as police officers and (c) the Accelerated Promotion scheme for graduate police officers in Greater London. [162335]
§ Ms BlearsRecruitment in England and Wales from 1 April 1997 to 31 March 2003 was as follows:
Number 1997–98 6,543 1998–99 5,391 1999–2000 4,535 2000–01 7,415 2001–02 10,215 2002–03 13,126 We now have record police numbers of 138,155 as at 31 December 2003.
796WOver the same period the Metropolitan Police Service recruited:
Number 1997–98 1,199 1998–99 1,633 1999–2000 994 2000–01 1,350 2001–02 2,748 2002–03 3,489 We do not collate the number of graduates recruited into the police service centrally and cannot say how many graduates have been recruited. We believe that the Police Service remains an attractive career for graduates. Of the 4,947 candidates that have gone through the national assessment centre procedure since April 2003, 25 per cent. have been graduates.
The Accelerated Promotion Scheme for Graduates was replaced in April 2002 by the High Potential Development (HP[...]) scheme which recruits both graduates and non graduates, externally and from within forces, with the potential to reach at least superintendent rank. It ensures that they are equipped with the necessary skills to become highly effective in middle management, command and leadership roles. The scheme is actively marketed to graduates.
Three intakes are run each year. Five intakes have been completed. 96 candidates have been selected from these five intakes. Statistics for intakes 1–4 show that 67 per cent. of those recruited onto the scheme were graduates on application. We do not have data for the Greater London area.
§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of police officers in Greater London, broken down by rank, are(a) female and (b) from an ethnic minority. [162337]
§ Ms BlearsThe information is provided in the table and is the position as at 31 March 2003.
(full-time equivalents) MPS City of London Number Percentage of total Number Percentage of total Women Officers ACPO Rank 5 13.9 0 0 Chief Superintendent 4 4.3 0 0 Superintendent 9 6.8 0 0 Chief Inspector 29 6.6 2 12.5 Inspector 97 7.1 3 5.9 Sergeant 468 11.1 9 8.3 Constable 4210 19.2 121 19.5 Total female officers 4822 17.1 135 16.6 Total number of officers 28231 811 Minority Ethnic Officers ACPO Rank 3 8.3 0 0 Chief Superintendent 2 2.2 0 0 Superintendent 4 3 0 0 Chief Inspector 8 1.8 1 6.3 Inspector 40 2.9 1 2 Sergeant 132 3.1 2 1.9 Constable 1385 6.3 24 3.9 Total minority ethnic officers 1574 5.6 28 3.5 Total number of officers 28231 811