September 30, 2004: Record Number of Police Officers

The Home Office has just published new figures on the overall total of police officers in England and Wales.  They indicate that there were 140,563 full-time equivalent police officers  on 31 March 2004. This is an increase of 6,114 (that is, 5 per cent) compared to a year earlier.

All forty-three forces increased their total officer strength in the 12 months to 31 March 2004. The largest increases in percentage terms were in Greater Manchester (up 10 per cent or 720 officers), Avon and Somerset (up 8 per cent or 257 officers) and Cumbria (up 8 per cent or 87 officers). The largest numerical increase was in the London's Metropolitan Police (up 1,804 officers or 6 per cent). In all, 14 forces increased their officer strength by 100 or more compared with 31 March 2003.

The overall total includes 2,095 officers seconded to the National Crime Squad, National Criminal Intelligence Service and central services.

There were 4,629 minority ethnic officers (that is, 3.3 per cent) of the total police strength, compared with 2.9 per cent on 31 March 2003.

The adjusted police officer strength figure for 31 March 2004, for comparison with figures prior to March 2003, was 139,200 - the highest level on record.