House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 19 Jul 2002 (pt 25)

Law Enforcement Priorities

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to individual police forces regarding priorities in law enforcement. [70410]

Mr. Denham: Under the Police Act 1996 the Home Secretary sets strategic objectives for the police. These are commonly known as the Ministerial Priorities. For the current year, 2002–03, these are:
To help create safe communities by reducing crime, anti-social behaviour and disorder through effective partnership working, including reducing the availability and use of Class A drugs.

19 Jul 2002 : Column 671W

To reduce the fear of crime in all sections of the community and in particular to increase the trust and confidence in policing amongst minority ethnic communities.
To increase the number of offences for which offenders, and particularly persistent offenders, are caught and brought to justice, in partnership with other criminal justice agencies.

Guidance on how best to achieve these priorities is not issued by the Home Office. It is for each Chief Officer, in consultation with their police authority, to determine the allocation of resources in a way which ensures that the Ministerial Priorities are complied with.

Metropolitan Police

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many frontline Metropolitan police officers have less than two years' experience, broken down by Greater London borough; and if he will make statement. [67007]

Mr. Denham: The information in the table has been provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. Newly appointed Police Officers serve a period of probation which normally lasts for two years. The table shows the number of probationer officers by borough. They all perform frontline duties.

Greater London Borough Probationer Strength as at 31 May 2002

Kensington & Chelsea 79

Westminster 216

Camden 101

Hammersmith & Fulham 70

Hackney 93

Tower Hamlets 92

Waltham Forest 61

Redbridge 54

Havering 52

Newham 90

Barking & Dagenham 29

Lambeth 118

Southwark 86

Islington 85

Lewisham 92

Bromley 58

Harrow 48

Brent 85

Greenwich 87

Bexley 51

Barnet 78

Richmond upon Thames 32

Hounslow 51

Kingston upon Thames 36

Merton 34

Wandsworth 98

Ealing 90

Hillingdon 45

Enfield 72

Haringey 85

Croydon 85

Sutton 36

Borough Total 2,389

Greater London Borough	Probationer Strength as at 31 May 2002
Kensington & Chelsea	79
Westminster	216
Camden	101
Hammersmith & Fulham	70
Hackney	93
Tower Hamlets	92
Waltham Forest	61
Redbridge	54
Havering	52
Newham	90
Barking & Dagenham	29
Lambeth	118
Southwark	86
Islington	85
Lewisham	92
Bromley	58
Harrow	48
Brent	85
Greenwich	87
Bexley	51
Barnet	78
Richmond upon Thames	32
Hounslow	51
Kingston upon Thames	36
Merton	34
Wandsworth	98
Ealing	90
Hillingdon	45
Enfield	72
Haringey	85
Croydon	85
Sutton	36
Borough Total	2,389

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the Metropolitan Police accommodation used to house police officers undergoing their intial training is owned by the Metropolitan Police Force; who owns the properties being

19 Jul 2002 : Column 672W

used by the Metropolitan Police for accommodation which are not owned by the Metropolitan Police; and if he will make a statement. [66817]

Mr. Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the Metropolitan Police Authority owns or leases all the accommodation used to house police officers undergoing their initial training. Currently, 18 per cent of available bed spaces for recruits are leased from the Ministry of Defence at Mill Hill Barracks.

Special Constables

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average gap between recruitment and enlistment of special constables was in the Metropolitan Police in the last 12 months. [65497]

Mr. Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the average processing time for applicants to the Metropolitan Special Constabulary in the past 12 months was 12 weeks (from date of receipt of application to attestation).

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there were in Buckinghamshire in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [68523]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 16 July 2002]: The Home Office records the number of special constables by police force, not by county. The number of special constables in Thames Valley Constabulary at 30 September between 1997–2001 is as follows:

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

694 587 472 463 377

1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
694	587	472	463	377

Figures supplied by Thames Valley Police.

Special constables are a key element of our police reform agenda. We are working on a package of measures to help reverse the decline in the number of special constables by improving the way they are recruited, managed and deployed. We are publishing guidance on good practice by the end of the year. We are also keen to improve liaison with employers and to encourage recognition of the wealth of skills and experience that specials bring to the workplace. We have also set aside £300,000 to help "specials champions" drive forward initiatives to improve recruitment and retention.

Police Stations

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations (a) closed and (b) opened in each police authority area in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [66615]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 2 July 2002]: Data are only available from 1990–91. Copies of the table detailing the number of police stations closed and opened, and the total numbers of police stations for each police authority since 1990–91 will be placed in the Library.

19 Jul 2002 : Column 673W

Information is available from all 43 forces for the total number of police stations for the three years to March 2000, March 2001 and March 2002. A number of forces

19 Jul 2002 : Column 674W

were unable to provide data on total police stations or on numbers opened or closed for earlier years and this is reflected in the table.

Number of Police Stations Opened and Closed since 1990–1996

Mar 90 Mar 91 Mar 92 Mar 93 Mar 94 Mar 95 Mar 96

No of Police Stations Opd Clsd Total Opd Clsd Total Opd Clsd Total Opd Clsd Total Opd Clsd Total Opd Clsd Total

Avon & Somerset 82 0 0 82 0 0 82 0 -1 81 0 -13 68 0 -6 62 0 -14 48

Bedfordshire (1)

Cambridgeshire 35 0 -2 33 0 -2 31 0 -1 30 0 0 30 0 0 30 0 -1 29

Cheshire 39 0 0 39 0 0 39 0 0 39 0 0 39 0 0 39 0 0 39

City of London 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2

Cleveland 17 0 0 17 0 0 17 0 0 17 1 0 18 2 0 20 2 0 22

Cumbria 24 0 0 24 0 0 24 0 0 24 10 0 34 0 0 34 0 0 34

Derbyshire

Devon & Cornwall 98 1 -5 94 0 -2 92 0 -3 89 2 -7 84 1 -7 78 4 -8 74

Dorset 27 0 0 27 0 0 27 0 0 27 0 0 27 1 -1 27 0 0 27

Durham 41 0 -1 40 0 0 40 0 0 40 0 0 40 3 -1 42 0 0 42

Dyfed-Powys 45 0 0 45 0 0 45 0 0 45 0 0 45 0 0 45 2 0 47

Essex (2) (3) (2) N/A N/A N/A 114 1 -1 114 1 -1 114 1 -2 113 2 -1 114 0 0 114

Gloucestershire 71 0 0 71 0 -3 68 0 -2 66 0 -3 63 0 0 63 0 0 63

Gtr Manchester 96 0 0 96 0 0 96 0 0 96 0 -3 93 0 -11 82 0 0 82

Gwent (5)

Hampshire 126 0 -2 124 0 -1 123 0 -6 117 0 -4 113 1 -2 112 0 -4 108

Hertfordshire (3) 55 1 -1 55 0 0 55 0 0 55 0 0 55 0 -32 23 0 0 23

Humberside 38 0 0 38 0 0 38 0 0 38 0 0 38 1 -2 37 0 -2 35

Kent 46 0 0 46 0 0 46 0 -7 39 2 -2 39 0 -4 35 1 -4 32

Lancashire 111 0 -1 110 0 0 110 1 0 111 1 -1 111 0 0 111 2 -2 111

Leicestershire 26 1 -1 26 0 0 26 0 0 26 0 0 26 0 0 26 0 -1 25

Lincolnshire 45 1 0 46 1 -1 46 3 -1 48 3 -3 48 2 -2 48 0 0 48

Metropolitan (3)

Merseyside 53 0 0 53 0 0 53 1 -1 53 0 -1 52 0 0 52 0 0 52

Norfolk

Northamptonshire 11 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 11

Northumbria

North Wales (1)

North Yorkshire

Noltinghamshire 63 0 -1 62 0 0 62 0 -1 61 0 0 61 1 -1 61 3 -1 63

South Wales (4) 150 26 -2 174 2 -13 163 4 -9 158 1 -2 157 2 -4 155 3 -5 153

South Yorkshire 89 0 0 89 0 -1 88 1 0 89 0 0 89 0 -3 86 1 0 87

Staffordshire 39 0 0 39 0 0 39 0 0 39 0 0 39 0 0 39 0 0 39

Suffolk 51 0 0 51 0 -1 50 0 -23 27 0 0 27 0 0 27 0 0 27

Surrey (3) 33 0 -1 32 0 0 32 0 0 32 0 0 32 0 -2 30 0 0

Sussex 34 0 0 34 0 0 34 0 0 34 0 0 34 0 0 34 0 0 34

Thames Valley 49 0 0 49 1 0 50 2 0 52 0 0 52 1 -1 52 1 -1 52

Warwickshire 18 1 -1 18 0 -1 17 0 0 17 0 0 17 0 0 17 0 -2 15

West Mercia 110 0 -22 88 1 -8 81 0 -11 70 0 -4 66 0 -4 62 0 -7 55

West Midlands 77 0 0 77 1 -2 76 0 0 76 0 -1 75 1 0 76 0 -1 75

West Yorkshire

Wiltshire 42 0 0 42 0 0 42 0 0 42 0 -7 35 1 -4 32 0 -2 30

TOTALS (6) 1843 31 -40 1948 7 -36 1919 13 -67 1865 21 -53 1833 19 -88 1764 19 -55 1728

Number of Police Stations Opened and Closed since 1997–2002

Mar 97 Mar 98 Mar 99 Mar 00 Mar 01 Mar 02

Opd Clsd Total Opd Clsd Total Opd Clsd Total Opd Clsd Total Opd Clsd Total Opd

Avon & Somerset 0 -13 35 2 -1 36 3 0 39 0 0 39 2 0 41 1

Bedfordshire (1) 2 (1)N/A 11 0 -1 10 0

Cambridgeshire 0 0 29 0 -1 28 1 -4 25 0 0 25 0 -1 24 0

Cheshire 0 -1 38 0 0 38 0 -2 36 0 -3 33 2 0 35 0

City of London 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0

Cleveland 2 0 24 0 -1 23 1 -2 22 0 0 22 0 0 22 0

Cumbria 1 -1 34 0 0 34 0 -10 24 0 0 24 0 0 24 1

Derbyshire 25 2 0 27 1

Devon & Cornwall 2 -5 71 1 -4 68 3 -3 68 1 -4 65 1 -1 65 0

Dorset 0 0 27 0 0 27 0 -1 26 1 -1 26 0 -1 25 3

Durham 2 -4 40 1 -1 40 0 0 40 0 0 40 3 -3 40 0

Dyfed-Powys 0 -3 44 4 -1 47 1 0 48 0 0 48 0 0 48 0

Essex (2) (3) 1 -1 114 0 0 114 1 -1 114 1 -43 72 4 -19 57 1

Gloucestershire 0 -1 62 1 0 63 0 -4 59 0 -12 47 1 -6 42 2

Gtr Manchester 0 0 82 1 -9 74 0 -4 70 0 0 70 0 -2 68 0

Gwent (5) 57 (5)N/A (4)-5 52 (4)4 (5)N/A 56 0 -7 49 0

Hampshire 5 -9 104 1 -3 102 0 -8 94 0 -2 92 1 -4 89 0

Hertfordshire (3) 0 0 23 1 -1 23 0 0 23 0 -2 21 4 0 25 0

Humberside 0 0 35 1 0 36 0 -2 34 1 -2 33 2 -2 33 0

Kent 1 -1 32 3 -3 32 1 -1 32 0 0 32 0 -2 30 0

Lancashire 0 -2 109 0 -1 108 1 -1 108 0 0 108 0 -1 107 1

Leicestershire 3 0 28 2 -2 28 3 -3 28 2 0 30 0 0 30 1

Lincolnshire 1 -6 43 0 -1 42 1 -1 42 0 0 42 0 0 42 0

Metropolitan (3) 156 0 -12 144 4

Merseyside 0 0 52 0 -1 51 0 -1 50 0 -6 44 0 -1 43 0

Norfolk 42 0 0 42 5

Northamptonshire 1 0 12 0 0 12 0 0 12 0 0 12 0 0 12 0

Northumbria 36 0 0 36 0

North Wales (1) (1)N/A -5 54 0 -2 52 0

North Yorkshire 35 0 0 35 0

Noltinghamshire 1 0 64 0 -22 42 1 -1 42 2 0 44 2 0 46 1

South Wales (4) 4 -19 138 1 -2 137 4 -5 136 1 -12 125 1 -4 122 1

South Yorkshire 0 -3 84 2 0 86 0 -4 82 0 -2 80 3 -6 77 6

Staffordshire 0 0 39 1 -2 38 1 -1 38 1 -1 38 0 0 38 2

Suffolk 0 0 27 1 0 28 0 0 28 0 0 28 0 0 28 0

Surrey (3) 0 0 30 0 -2 28 0 -2 26 0 -4 22 6 0 28 1

Sussex 0 0 34 0 0 34 1 0 35 1 0 36 0 0 36 0

Thames Valley 1 0 53 1 -7 47 9 -1 55 2 -2 55 0 -4 51 2

Warwickshire 0 0 15 0 0 15 0 0 15 0 0 15 0 0 15 0

West Mercia 0 -2 53 0 0 53 4 -4 53 1 -1 53 1 -1 53 1

West Midlands 0 -3 72 0 -2 70 0 -1 69 0 -1 68 0 0 68 1

West Yorkshire 40 0 0 40 0

Wiltshire 0 -2 28 0 -2 26 0 -2 24 0 0 24 0 0 24 1

TOTALS (6) 25 -76 1677 24 -69 1689 36 -74 1651 20 -103 1970 35 -80 1925 36

	Mar 90	Mar 91	Mar 92	Mar 93	Mar 94	Mar 95	Mar 96
	No of Police Stations	Opd	Clsd	Total	Opd	Clsd	Total	Opd	Clsd	Total	Opd	Clsd	Total	Opd	Clsd	Total	Opd	Clsd	Total
Avon & Somerset	82	0	0	82	0	0	82	0	-1	81	0	-13	68	0	-6	62	0	-14	48
Bedfordshire (1)
Cambridgeshire	35	0	-2	33	0	-2	31	0	-1	30	0	0	30	0	0	30	0	-1	29
Cheshire	39	0	0	39	0	0	39	0	0	39	0	0	39	0	0	39	0	0	39
City of London	2	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	2
Cleveland	17	0	0	17	0	0	17	0	0	17	1	0	18	2	0	20	2	0	22
Cumbria	24	0	0	24	0	0	24	0	0	24	10	0	34	0	0	34	0	0	34
Derbyshire
Devon & Cornwall	98	1	-5	94	0	-2	92	0	-3	89	2	-7	84	1	-7	78	4	-8	74
Dorset	27	0	0	27	0	0	27	0	0	27	0	0	27	1	-1	27	0	0	27
Durham	41	0	-1	40	0	0	40	0	0	40	0	0	40	3	-1	42	0	0	42
Dyfed-Powys	45	0	0	45	0	0	45	0	0	45	0	0	45	0	0	45	2	0	47
Essex (2) (3)	(2) N/A	N/A	N/A	114	1	-1	114	1	-1	114	1	-2	113	2	-1	114	0	0	114
Gloucestershire	71	0	0	71	0	-3	68	0	-2	66	0	-3	63	0	0	63	0	0	63
Gtr Manchester	96	0	0	96	0	0	96	0	0	96	0	-3	93	0	-11	82	0	0	82
Gwent (5)
Hampshire	126	0	-2	124	0	-1	123	0	-6	117	0	-4	113	1	-2	112	0	-4	108
Hertfordshire (3)	55	1	-1	55	0	0	55	0	0	55	0	0	55	0	-32	23	0	0	23
Humberside	38	0	0	38	0	0	38	0	0	38	0	0	38	1	-2	37	0	-2	35
Kent	46	0	0	46	0	0	46	0	-7	39	2	-2	39	0	-4	35	1	-4	32
Lancashire	111	0	-1	110	0	0	110	1	0	111	1	-1	111	0	0	111	2	-2	111
Leicestershire	26	1	-1	26	0	0	26	0	0	26	0	0	26	0	0	26	0	-1	25
Lincolnshire	45	1	0	46	1	-1	46	3	-1	48	3	-3	48	2	-2	48	0	0	48
Metropolitan (3)
Merseyside	53	0	0	53	0	0	53	1	-1	53	0	-1	52	0	0	52	0	0	52
Norfolk
Northamptonshire	11	0	0	11	0	0	11	0	0	11	0	0	11	0	0	11	0	0	11
Northumbria
North Wales (1)
North Yorkshire
Noltinghamshire	63	0	-1	62	0	0	62	0	-1	61	0	0	61	1	-1	61	3	-1	63
South Wales (4)	150	26	-2	174	2	-13	163	4	-9	158	1	-2	157	2	-4	155	3	-5	153
South Yorkshire	89	0	0	89	0	-1	88	1	0	89	0	0	89	0	-3	86	1	0	87
Staffordshire	39	0	0	39	0	0	39	0	0	39	0	0	39	0	0	39	0	0	39
Suffolk	51	0	0	51	0	-1	50	0	-23	27	0	0	27	0	0	27	0	0	27
Surrey (3)	33	0	-1	32	0	0	32	0	0	32	0	0	32	0	-2	30	0	0
Sussex	34	0	0	34	0	0	34	0	0	34	0	0	34	0	0	34	0	0	34
Thames Valley	49	0	0	49	1	0	50	2	0	52	0	0	52	1	-1	52	1	-1	52
Warwickshire	18	1	-1	18	0	-1	17	0	0	17	0	0	17	0	0	17	0	-2	15
West Mercia	110	0	-22	88	1	-8	81	0	-11	70	0	-4	66	0	-4	62	0	-7	55
West Midlands	77	0	0	77	1	-2	76	0	0	76	0	-1	75	1	0	76	0	-1	75
West Yorkshire
Wiltshire	42	0	0	42	0	0	42	0	0	42	0	-7	35	1	-4	32	0	-2	30
TOTALS (6)	1843	31	-40	1948	7	-36	1919	13	-67	1865	21	-53	1833	19	-88	1764	19	-55	1728

	Mar 97	Mar 98	Mar 99	Mar 00	Mar 01	Mar 02
	Opd	Clsd	Total	Opd	Clsd	Total	Opd	Clsd	Total	Opd	Clsd	Total	Opd	Clsd	Total	Opd
Avon & Somerset	0	-13	35	2	-1	36	3	0	39	0	0	39	2	0	41	1
Bedfordshire (1)										2	(1)N/A	11	0	-1	10	0
Cambridgeshire	0	0	29	0	-1	28	1	-4	25	0	0	25	0	-1	24	0
Cheshire	0	-1	38	0	0	38	0	-2	36	0	-3	33	2	0	35	0
City of London	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	2	0
Cleveland	2	0	24	0	-1	23	1	-2	22	0	0	22	0	0	22	0
Cumbria	1	-1	34	0	0	34	0	-10	24	0	0	24	0	0	24	1
Derbyshire									25	2	0	27	1
Devon & Cornwall	2	-5	71	1	-4	68	3	-3	68	1	-4	65	1	-1	65	0
Dorset	0	0	27	0	0	27	0	-1	26	1	-1	26	0	-1	25	3
Durham	2	-4	40	1	-1	40	0	0	40	0	0	40	3	-3	40	0
Dyfed-Powys	0	-3	44	4	-1	47	1	0	48	0	0	48	0	0	48	0
Essex (2) (3)	1	-1	114	0	0	114	1	-1	114	1	-43	72	4	-19	57	1
Gloucestershire	0	-1	62	1	0	63	0	-4	59	0	-12	47	1	-6	42	2
Gtr Manchester	0	0	82	1	-9	74	0	-4	70	0	0	70	0	-2	68	0
Gwent (5)						57	(5)N/A	(4)-5	52	(4)4	(5)N/A	56	0	-7	49	0
Hampshire	5	-9	104	1	-3	102	0	-8	94	0	-2	92	1	-4	89	0
Hertfordshire (3)	0	0	23	1	-1	23	0	0	23	0	-2	21	4	0	25	0
Humberside	0	0	35	1	0	36	0	-2	34	1	-2	33	2	-2	33	0
Kent	1	-1	32	3	-3	32	1	-1	32	0	0	32	0	-2	30	0
Lancashire	0	-2	109	0	-1	108	1	-1	108	0	0	108	0	-1	107	1
Leicestershire	3	0	28	2	-2	28	3	-3	28	2	0	30	0	0	30	1
Lincolnshire	1	-6	43	0	-1	42	1	-1	42	0	0	42	0	0	42	0
Metropolitan (3)												156	0	-12	144	4
Merseyside	0	0	52	0	-1	51	0	-1	50	0	-6	44	0	-1	43	0
Norfolk												42	0	0	42	5
Northamptonshire	1	0	12	0	0	12	0	0	12	0	0	12	0	0	12	0
Northumbria												36	0	0	36	0
North Wales (1)										(1)N/A	-5	54	0	-2	52	0
North Yorkshire												35	0	0	35	0
Noltinghamshire	1	0	64	0	-22	42	1	-1	42	2	0	44	2	0	46	1
South Wales (4)	4	-19	138	1	-2	137	4	-5	136	1	-12	125	1	-4	122	1
South Yorkshire	0	-3	84	2	0	86	0	-4	82	0	-2	80	3	-6	77	6
Staffordshire	0	0	39	1	-2	38	1	-1	38	1	-1	38	0	0	38	2
Suffolk	0	0	27	1	0	28	0	0	28	0	0	28	0	0	28	0
Surrey (3)	0	0	30	0	-2	28	0	-2	26	0	-4	22	6	0	28	1
Sussex	0	0	34	0	0	34	1	0	35	1	0	36	0	0	36	0
Thames Valley	1	0	53	1	-7	47	9	-1	55	2	-2	55	0	-4	51	2

Warwickshire	0	0	15	0	0	15	0	0	15	0	0	15	0	0	15	0
West Mercia	0	-2	53	0	0	53	4	-4	53	1	-1	53	1	-1	53	1
West Midlands	0	-3	72	0	-2	70	0	-1	69	0	-1	68	0	0	68	1
West Yorkshire												40	0	0	40	0
Wiltshire	0	-2	28	0	-2	26	0	-2	24	0	0	24	0	0	24	1
TOTALS (6)	25	-76	1677	24	-69	1689	36	-74	1651	20	-103	1970	35	-80	1925	36

(1) Comprehensive data for openings/closures for Bedfordshire and North Wales for 1999–2000 are not available. First "Total" numbers available are for March 2000.

(2) Data not available for the total number of police stations in Essex at March 1990, or the number of openings/closures during 1990–91. The first "Total" figure available is for March 1991.

(3) 12 police stations were transferred by the Metropolitan Police Authority to boundary forces in April 2000; Essex (2), Herts (4) and Surrey (6).

(4) In 1996–97 South Wales Police transferred nine police stations to Gwent.

(5) Figures for Gwent opening/closures in 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are net openings/closures.

(6) The totals given for 1990 cover data from 33 forces only. Data was not available from the remaining 10 forces. The totals given for 1991–97 cover data from 34 forces. The total figures for the number of police stations for 1998 and 1999 cover data from 35 forces. Although the figures for the total number of police stations for March 2000 covers data from all 43 forces, data on the number of openings/closures in 1999–2000 are only available from 37 forces.

19 Jul 2002 : Column 675W

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