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4 POLICE STAFF STRENGTH (a) As at 31 March 2007, there were 91,056 full-time equivalent police Staff in supporting roles (Tables 10a and b). This is an increase of ten per cent from the previous year. Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) madę up 15 per cent of this total. Designated officers madę up two per cent, and traffic wardens comprised a further one per cent of this total.

Figurę 6: Police Staff as at 31 March 2007, England and Wales

Designated

Officers

2%

Traffic Wardens 1%

Other police staff 82%

(b) Police staff numbers (i.e. non-officer police employees, excluding PCSOs, traffic wardens and designated officers) increased by two per cent compared to 31 March 2006. The number of PCSOs increased by 99 per cent to 13,497 in the year ending March 2007, following a nine per cent increase in the previous year. Traffic warden numbers have decreased by 27 per cent over the same period. The continued decline in the number of traffic wardens reflects the increasing role of local authorities in parking control (Tables 10a and b).

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