Written question asked by Adrian Flook (Conservative) on Wednesday, 2 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 February 2005. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Monday, 21 February 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the full-time equivalent head count for Avon and Somerset Constabulary was in each of the last eight years. - Inc table and figures. (Holding answer 7 February 2005).

Answer: Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the full-time equivalent head count for Avon and Somerset constabulary was in each of the last eight years. [214652] Ms Blears :[holding answer 7 February 2005]: Information on police service strength is published annually in a Home Office statistical bulletin and half- yearly in an online report. The latest figures were published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 13/ 04, "Police Service Strength England and Wales, 31 March 2004". Full-time equivalent strength for Avon and Somerset constabulary is given in the following table. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Police officers Police staff Community support Traffic wardens Total strength officers 31 March 1997 2,989 1,439 -- 108 4,536 31 March 1998 2,976 1,393 -- 114 4,483 31 March 1999 2,999 1,425 -- 115 4,539 31 March 2000 2,934 1,436 -- 59 4,429 31 March 2001 2,994 1,452 -- 48 4,494 31 March 2002 3,096 1,611 -- 44 4,751 31 March 20031 3,149 1,767 -- 43 4,959 31 March 20041 3,401 1,952 45 34 5,432 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Comparable strength with previous years. Excludes staff on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave.

Secondary information