House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 23 Jul 2002 (pt 44)

Police Retention

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 February 2001, Official Report, column 299W, on police retention, what proportion of police officers retired from each force in each year since 1997 (a) on medical grounds (b) at normal retirement age and (c) on other grounds; and what the net change was as a proportion of each force in each year since 1997. [38032]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 27 February 2002]: The figures given in the answer of 12 February 2001, were those collected by the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) and published as Police Personnel Statistics. For the purpose of these statistics, wastage is collected on a headcount basis (ie the number of persons) in the following categories: retirements, resignations and other. The statistics do not distinguish between medical and other retirements.

23 Jul 2002 : Column 1047W

In addition to the information collected by RDS, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) collects information annually about wastage from the police service broken down into the following categories:

Dismissals from force (including requirements to resign)
Voluntary resignations
Medical retirements
Ordinary retirements
Transfers from force
Deaths.

Forces are asked to provide these figures on a full-time equivalent basis, not on a headcount basis. HMIC's information has been used to provide the figures in a table for the numbers and proportion of medical and ordinary retirements and other leavers (excluding transfers), a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Information for 2001–02 will not be available until later in the year.

As the statistics collected by HMIC are gathered on a different basis from those collected twice a year by RDS, information from the two sources cannot be reconciled directly. We are aware of the inconsistent basis between the two sets of figures and established a task force to consider these issues. The task force report was issued for consultation on 18 December 2001. The report of the task force proposes a comprehensive revision to the current requirements on police personnel statistics. Following consultation with the police service we will implement the necessary changes from September 2002.

Police Firearms

Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the most recent statistics are for the police use of firearms. [72974]

Mr. Denham: The statistics for April 2000 to March 2001 show that the number of police operations in which firearms were issued was 11,109. The number of occasions on which firearms were discharged by police increased to nine.

There was a small decrease in the number of operations in which armed response vehicles were deployed.

Full details are set out in the tables:

Number of operations in which firearms were authorised

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01

Avon and Somerset 139 88 90 65

Bedfordshire 323 260 190 294

Cambridgeshire 96 43 75 71

Cheshire 216 29 386 545

Cleveland 103 35 76 28

City of London 307 147 125 3

Cumbria 68 52 24 30

Derbyshire 147 176 178 167

Devon and Cornwall 133 61 65 151

Dorset 54 69 79 174

Durham 103 114 114 40

Essex 505 590 497 435

Gloucestershire 51 52 52 48

Greater Manchester 165 160 224 357

Hampshire 217 129 103 114

Hertfordshire 82 75 73 86

Humberside 472 317 193 158

Kent 423 92 85 83

Lancashire 338 616 267 242

Leicestershire 89 109 222 217

Lincolnshire 52 57 155 336

Merseyside 675 484 489 825

Metropolitan 2,578 2,742 2,862 1,862

Norfolk 128 185 239 226

Northamptonshire 77 51 57 58

Northumbria 823 683 465 708

North Yorkshire 102 69 61 72

Nottinghamshire 306 266 255 233

South Yorkshire 302 135 237 127

Staffordshire 240 209 174 203

Suffolk 193 174 165 176

Surrey 87 60 143 221

Sussex 330 123 185 353

Thames Valley 227 158 110 153

Warwickshire 152 291 194 233

West Mercia 132 130 110 36

West Midlands 227 305 362 485

West Yorkshire 630 662 813 822

Wiltshire 26 24 19 66

Dyfed Powys 27 38 37 18

Gwent 86 64 39 30

North Wales 310 386 371 195

South Wales 101 148 255 363

Total 11,842 10,928 10,915 11,109

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
Avon and Somerset	139	88	90	65
Bedfordshire	323	260	190	294
Cambridgeshire	96	43	75	71
Cheshire	216	29	386	545
Cleveland	103	35	76	28
City of London	307	147	125	3
Cumbria	68	52	24	30
Derbyshire	147	176	178	167
Devon and Cornwall	133	61	65	151
Dorset	54	69	79	174
Durham	103	114	114	40
Essex	505	590	497	435
Gloucestershire	51	52	52	48
Greater Manchester	165	160	224	357

Hampshire	217	129	103	114
Hertfordshire	82	75	73	86
Humberside	472	317	193	158
Kent	423	92	85	83
Lancashire	338	616	267	242
Leicestershire	89	109	222	217
Lincolnshire	52	57	155	336
Merseyside	675	484	489	825
Metropolitan	2,578	2,742	2,862	1,862
Norfolk	128	185	239	226
Northamptonshire	77	51	57	58
Northumbria	823	683	465	708
North Yorkshire	102	69	61	72
Nottinghamshire	306	266	255	233
South Yorkshire	302	135	237	127
Staffordshire	240	209	174	203
Suffolk	193	174	165	176
Surrey	87	60	143	221
Sussex	330	123	185	353
Thames Valley	227	158	110	153
Warwickshire	152	291	194	233
West Mercia	132	130	110	36
West Midlands	227	305	362	485
West Yorkshire	630	662	813	822
Wiltshire	26	24	19	66
Dyfed Powys	27	38	37	18
Gwent	86	64	39	30
North Wales	310	386	371	195
South Wales	101	148	255	363
Total	11,842	10,928	10,915	11,109

23 Jul 2002 : Column 1048W

Number of authorised firearms officers (AFOs)

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01

Avon and Somerset 161 153 150 135

Bedfordshire 42 50 46 45

Cambridgeshire 80 80 77 73

Cheshire 82 70 75 74

Cleveland 84 78 80 75

City of London 81 55 73 74

Cumbria 122 98 98 94

Derbyshire 100 87 77 81

Devon and Cornwall 147 82 119 100

Dorset 72 72 66 67

Durham 144 96 101 101

Essex 217 235 228 195

Gloucestershire 84 79 77 72

Greater Manchester 182 217 218 240

Hampshire 112 110 111 100

Hertfordshire 41 43 52 44

Humberside 102 102 97 102

Kent 150 130 136 136

Lancashire 125 132 143 132

Leicestershire 94 90 90 85

Lincolnshire 85 75 78 80

Merseyside 165 121 96 103

Metropolitan 1,971 1,951 1,977 1,940

Norfolk 102 109 110 114

Northamptonshire 92 92 75 77

Northumbria 126 123 114 109

North Yorkshire 95 83 59 66

Nottinghamshire 129 120 116 137

South Yorkshire 108 90 100 98

Staffordshire 86 92 81 67

Suffolk 96 101 98 90

Surrey 61 69 71 72

Sussex 146 156 131 118

Thames Valley 194 179 187 185

Warwickshire 38 44 54 45

West Mercia 159 139 129 130

West Midlands 95 92 93 83

West Yorkshire 114 128 110 117

Wiltshire 105 88 89 71

Dyfed Powys 71 67 65 61

Gwent 59 64 68 66

North Wales 90 97 92 67

South Wales 176 169 155 143

Total 6,585 6,308 6,262 6,064

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
Avon and Somerset	161	153	150	135
Bedfordshire	42	50	46	45
Cambridgeshire	80	80	77	73
Cheshire	82	70	75	74
Cleveland	84	78	80	75
City of London	81	55	73	74
Cumbria	122	98	98	94
Derbyshire	100	87	77	81
Devon and Cornwall	147	82	119	100
Dorset	72	72	66	67
Durham	144	96	101	101
Essex	217	235	228	195
Gloucestershire	84	79	77	72
Greater Manchester	182	217	218	240
Hampshire	112	110	111	100
Hertfordshire	41	43	52	44
Humberside	102	102	97	102
Kent	150	130	136	136
Lancashire	125	132	143	132
Leicestershire	94	90	90	85
Lincolnshire	85	75	78	80
Merseyside	165	121	96	103
Metropolitan	1,971	1,951	1,977	1,940
Norfolk	102	109	110	114
Northamptonshire	92	92	75	77
Northumbria	126	123	114	109
North Yorkshire	95	83	59	66
Nottinghamshire	129	120	116	137
South Yorkshire	108	90	100	98
Staffordshire	86	92	81	67
Suffolk	96	101	98	90
Surrey	61	69	71	72
Sussex	146	156	131	118
Thames Valley	194	179	187	185
Warwickshire	38	44	54	45
West Mercia	159	139	129	130
West Midlands	95	92	93	83
West Yorkshire	114	128	110	117
Wiltshire	105	88	89	71
Dyfed Powys	71	67	65	61
Gwent	59	64	68	66
North Wales	90	97	92	67
South Wales	176	169	155	143
Total	6,585	6,308	6,262	6,064

23 Jul 2002 : Column 1049W

Number of operations involving armed response vehicles (ARVs)

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01

Avon and Somerset 121 83 78 56

Bedfordshire 285 240 172 253

Cambridgeshire 19 27 54 36

Cheshire 166 247 330 441

Cleveland ⁽³⁶⁾57 29 25 16

City of London 34 32 24 30

Cumbria 43 38 21 27

Derbyshire 99 153 167 152

Devon and Cornwall 58 43 52 121

Dorset 50 66 69 155

Durham 85 84 67 31

Essex 180 285 244 206

Gloucestershire 48 49 44 39

Greater Manchester 56 43 173 302

Hampshire 170 114 90 84

Hertfordshire 25 26 44 65

Humberside 437 277 181 136

Kent 212 74 58 64

Lancashire 321 596 250 177

Leicestershire 68 109 144 195

Lincolnshire 34 42 141 324

Merseyside 559 396 466 75

Metropolitan 954 1,573 1,812 1,380

Norfolk 117 167 210 192

Northamptonshire 29 32 21 35

Northumbria 515 503 397 655

North Yorkshire 52 30 40 54

Nottinghamshire ⁽³⁶⁾256 246 232 207

South Yorkshire 252 115 214 103

Staffordshire 206 185 131 136

Suffolk 135 104 101 103

Surrey 76 46 110 192

Sussex 284 ⁽³⁶⁾0 172 245

Thames Valley 184 139 108 108

Warwickshire 127 220 158 194

West Mercia 98 99 98 26

West Midlands 102 129 138 243

West Yorkshire 586 630 787 785

Wiltshire 21 17 15 48

Dyfed Powys 19 30 37 18

Gwent 47 39 27 17

North Wales 260 298 354 155

South Wales 97 136 220 298

Total 7,544 7,791 8,276 8,179

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
Avon and Somerset	121	83	78	56
Bedfordshire	285	240	172	253
Cambridgeshire	19	27	54	36
Cheshire	166	247	330	441
Cleveland	⁽³⁶⁾57	29	25	16
City of London	34	32	24	30
Cumbria	43	38	21	27
Derbyshire	99	153	167	152
Devon and Cornwall	58	43	52	121
Dorset	50	66	69	155
Durham	85	84	67	31
Essex	180	285	244	206
Gloucestershire	48	49	44	39
Greater Manchester	56	43	173	302
Hampshire	170	114	90	84
Hertfordshire	25	26	44	65
Humberside	437	277	181	136
Kent	212	74	58	64
Lancashire	321	596	250	177
Leicestershire	68	109	144	195
Lincolnshire	34	42	141	324
Merseyside	559	396	466	75
Metropolitan	954	1,573	1,812	1,380
Norfolk	117	167	210	192
Northamptonshire	29	32	21	35
Northumbria	515	503	397	655
North Yorkshire	52	30	40	54
Nottinghamshire	⁽³⁶⁾256	246	232	207
South Yorkshire	252	115	214	103
Staffordshire	206	185	131	136
Suffolk	135	104	101	103
Surrey	76	46	110	192
Sussex	284	⁽³⁶⁾0	172	245
Thames Valley	184	139	108	108
Warwickshire	127	220	158	194
West Mercia	98	99	98	26
West Midlands	102	129	138	243
West Yorkshire	586	630	787	785
Wiltshire	21	17	15	48
Dyfed Powys	19	30	37	18

Gwent	47	39	27	17
North Wales	260	298	354	155
South Wales	97	136	220	298
Total	7,544	7,791	8,276	8,179

⁽³⁶⁾ These forces have changed the counting method for incidents to which ARVs are deployed.

23 Jul 2002 : Column 1050W

Police Vacancies

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which 10 police authorities have (a) the highest and (b) the lowest number of vacancies for police officers; and how many officers were involved in each case. [36912]

Mr. Denham: The information requested is not collected centrally.

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