Written question asked by Paddy Tipping (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 November 2003. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 November 2003 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian police staff were employed in (i) Avon and Somerset, (ii) Bedforshire, (iii) Leicestershire and (iv) South Yorkshire on (A) 31st March 1997, (B) 31st March 2003 and (C) 31st August 2003. - Tables given.

Answer: Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian police staff were employed in (i) Avon and Somerset, (ii) Bedforshire, (iii) Leicestershire and (iv) South Yorkshire on (A) 31 March 1997, (B) 31 March 2003 and (C) 31 August 2003. [138844] Ms Blears: The available information is given in the tables: Number of police officers1 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 31 March 1997 31 March 2003 31 August 2003 Avon and Somerset 2,989 3,160 3,304 Bedfordshire 1,094 1,119 1,132 Leicestershire 1,949 2,147 2,159 South Yorkshire 3,159 3,194 3,210 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Full time equivalents Number of civilian police staff 1,2 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 31 March 1997 31 March 2003 31 August 2003 Avon and Somerset 1,330 1,785 3-- Bedfordshire 484 595 3-- Leicestershire 755 934 3-- South Yorkshire 1,291 1,510 3-- _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Full time equivalents 2 Excludes traffic wardens 3 Not available

Secondary information