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Written question asked by Baroness Featherstone (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 23 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 November 2005. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Thursday, 1 December 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces have diving units; how many divers each force has; when (a) diving suits and (b) equipment was last replaced in each unit; and if he will make a statement.
Answer

Data is provided in the following tables and has only been provided for forces with figures. Figures are provided for officers and staff whose main function is recorded as ‘Underwater-Operational'. This includes members predominantly employed in an Underwater Search Unit, but not including those employed in Marine Units.Figures for members predominantly employed in Marine or boat patrol are given separately. It should be noted while this function may include diving, it is not possible to specify how many of these officers are employed specifically in diving.Figures regarding diving equipment are not collected centrally.

Police officers and police staff whose main function is ‘Underwater-Operational', by force, as at 31 March 2005(20)
Full-time equivalent
Avon and Somerset 8
Cumbria 2
Greater Manchester 2
Humberside 1
Lancashire 2
Merseyside 2
Metropolitan Police 8
North Yorkshire 6
Nottinghamshire 3
South Wales 8
Sussex 8
Thames Valley 8
West Yorkshire 11
‘Underwater-Operational'—includes staff who are predominantly employed in an Underwater Search Unit but not including officers employed in Marine Units.
(20) Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for individual Chief Constables.
Police officers and police staff whose main function is ‘Marine-Operational, Operational Support or Organisational Support', by force, as at 31 March 2005(21)
Full-time equivalent
Dorset 7
Dyfed-Powys 4
Essex 12
Hampshire 9
Kent 6
Metropolitan Police 66
Northumbria 21
‘Marine-Operational'—includes staff who predominantly conduct marine or boat patrol including supervisors. ‘Marine-Operational Support'—includes staff who predominantly perform support function within Marine Sections/Units. ‘Marine-Organisational Support'—includes staff who predominantly perform support functions within Marine Sections.
(21) Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for individual Chief Constables.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
440 c754-5W;440 c754-5W; 32675
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Equipment Police Divers
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk