West Yorks Police numbers still bottom of the league

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 4th Oct 2004

Figures released last week by the Home Office show that although the number of police officers in West Yorkshire increased in 2003-04, we still have fewer officers per 100,000 people than most other major urban areas.

Councillor David Ward, Chair of the Bradford North Area Panel said:

"The Liberal Democrats have highlighted this problem before and we know that it concerns people greatly.

"Of the metropolitan areas outside London, West Yorkshire comes bottom with just 254 officers for every 100,000 people. Greater Manchester comes top with 323 officers. Merseyside has 303, Northumbria ( Newcastle ) has 294 and South Yorkshire has 261.

"As recently as June this year, West Yorkshire was one of only five forces given a 'poor' rating by Government Inspectors but they also pointed out that they received £26m less from the Home Office than the average metropolitan police force. This works out at 924 police officers which would push us into fourth place with 298 per 100,000 people.

"Once again, we will be pressing the Home Office to deliver the cash and not leave it to hard-press Council Tax payers to make up the shortfall."

Related Link:

Statistical Bulletin from the Home Office.