26.07.12
Nine-year low for police officer numbers
Police officer numbers in England and Wales have fallen to their lowest level in nine years, statistics from the Home Office show.
Full time equivalent (FTE) officers in 43 forces across England and Wales numbered 134,101 at the end of March. This is a fall of 5,009, or 3.6%, on the previous year.
The number of community support officers also fell, by 9% to 14,393. However, the number of volunteer special constables was up 10.4% to 20,343, figures show.
The biggest percentage drops were in Derbyshire, by 10%, and Warwickshire, by 8.2%, whileSurreysaw a 4.7% rise.
The total number of officers in Derbyshire fell by 202 and Warwickshire had 75 fewer, whileSurreyhad 89 more – the only force to see an increase. The largest numerical decrease was in theWest Midlands– down 323 officers, or 4%.
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