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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police officer numbers at nine-year low | Police officer numbers at nine-year low |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Police officer numbers in England and Wales have fallen to their lowest level in nine years, the Home Office says. | Police officer numbers in England and Wales have fallen to their lowest level in nine years, the Home Office says. |
| Full-time equivalent (FTE) officers in the 43 forces stood at 134,101 at the end of March - a fall of 5,009 officers (3.6%) compared to a year earlier. | Full-time equivalent (FTE) officers in the 43 forces stood at 134,101 at the end of March - a fall of 5,009 officers (3.6%) compared to a year earlier. |
| The biggest percentage drops were in Derbyshire (10%) and Warwickshire (8.2%), while Surrey saw a 4.7% rise. | The biggest percentage drops were in Derbyshire (10%) and Warwickshire (8.2%), while Surrey saw a 4.7% rise. |
| The overall number of community support officers fell 9% to 14,393, the Home Office figures also showed. | The overall number of community support officers fell 9% to 14,393, the Home Office figures also showed. |
| But the number of volunteer special constables was up 10.4% to 20,343. | But the number of volunteer special constables was up 10.4% to 20,343. |
| Policing and Criminal Justice Minister Nick Herbert said the reduced numbers were a result of "necessary savings" as part of the deficit reduction programme. | |
| He added that service to the public was "largely being maintained" and projections showed 94% of officers would remain on the front line - and the proportion was rising. | |
| "We inherited a situation where there were some 25,000 officers not on the front line," he said. | |
| "So there was plenty of scope for forces to make savings while improving performance, as forces are showing as they continue to drive down crime." | |
| The total number of officers in Derbyshire fell by 202 and Warwickshire had 75 fewer, while Surrey had 89 more - the only force to see an increase. | The total number of officers in Derbyshire fell by 202 and Warwickshire had 75 fewer, while Surrey had 89 more - the only force to see an increase. |
| The largest numerical decrease was in the West Midlands - down 323 officers (4%). | The largest numerical decrease was in the West Midlands - down 323 officers (4%). |
| In South Wales, officer numbers were down 6.2% to 2,907, while in North Wales numbers dropped 4.9% to 1,454. | |
| Gwent saw officer numbers shrink by 3.7% to 1,446 and Dyfed-Powys by 2.3% to 1,131. |