Overall
Police Personnel Numbers up 1.6%
Commenting on the release of police service strength
statistics for England and Wales, ACPO President Chief Constable Ken Jones
said:
'The snapshot on overall service numbers published today shows police
personnel increased by 1.6% over the 12 months to 31st March 2008. Effective
modern policing is delivered through placing those with the right skills
in positions where they can have most impact in cutting crime and protecting
the public, whether police officers, police staff or PCSOs. Within those
totals the numbers of sworn officers is holding firm at just over 140,000,
reflecting their central role within the workforce.
'Individual forces will continue to look for efficiencies as they meet
the expanding workload of the police service within the financial settlement,
with consequent reductions in police staff and officers in some forces.
Across the service, maintaining the capability to ‘flex’ to
meet challenges as they arise, through mobilising officers and staff,
remains a vital component of good policing.'
