Human Resources
Police Numbers
The police service in England and Wales has benefited from a period of sustained investment that has contributed to significant growth in capacity.
Police Numbers at 31 March 2009
At the end of March 2009 the police service in England and Wales had a workforce of 239,607 which has increased by 56,590 since 1997. This included 142,151 police officers which have increased from 125,825 in 1997. Police officers are supported by 16,331 Police Community Support Officers in March 2009 and 81,125 police staff where numbers have increased by 23,934 since March 1997.
It is for the Chief Constable of each police force to decide how best to use the resources available to them when setting staffing levels. The workforce mix in each police force area is the product of the professional judgement made by each Chief Constable. The Home Office does not intervene in any way about the mix of staff that each police force has.
Outcomes are what matter most. In other words, it is not historically high numbers in the workforce that by itself will deliver a better service for the public. It is what officers and staff do that is crucial. Effective policing is delivered by getting the best possible workforce mix of officers, staff and PCSOs to ensure the best and most responsive possible service.
The police service continues to become more representative of the communities that is serves. Women now represent 25.1% of police officers compared with 24.2% in 2008 and 16% ten years’ ago. There are 6,290 minority ethnic officers in the 43 forces of England and Wales, 4.4% of the total compared with 4.1% in 2008 and 2% ten years ago. There are also 1,362 minority ethnic special constables which are 9.6% of the total and 7.4% of police staff are from minority ethnic communities - 11.5% of PCSOs.
Neighbourhood Policing
Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are a unique and valuable addition to the policing family. Since their introduction in 2002, their numbers have increased to over 16,000 and they are now an integral part of Neighbourhood Policing teams (Safer Neighbourhood Teams) in every local community. There are over 3,600 Neighbourhood Policing Teams in place across England and Wales consisting of over 29,000 Sergeants and Constables and Police Community Support Officers.
Special Constables
Special constables are volunteer police officers who give up at least 4 hours a week of their own time to police our streets. They have all the powers of a paid police officer. At the end of March 2009 there were 14,251 special constables, a decrease of 296 since March 2008.
For exact figures, see Police Service Strength England and Wales, March 2009
