To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers were employed in Essex in each of the last five years; how many he expects to be employed by 2008; and if he will make a statement. (111261)

The information requested is set out in the following table. PCSOs were first recruited in Essex in 2002-03 so figures have been shown from that period. The Essex Police has a target of 362 police community support officers for April this year and in support of this will receive funding totalling £5 million in 2006-07, increasing to £6.7 million in 2007-08. It is a matter for the chief constable and the police authority to take decisions on the number of police community support officers and other staff that the force should employ by March 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what factors were taken into account when deciding not to supply police community support officers with handcuffs; (111859)

[holding answers 22 and 26 January 2007]: A chief officer may designate a PCSO with the power to use reasonable force in carrying out the relevant powers designated to that officer under schedule 4 of the Police Reform Act 2002.

The use of handcuffs or other restraint or protective equipment by PCSOs is an operational matter for the chief officer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the target for the recruitment of police community support officers has been changed from 24,000 to 16,000. (117341)

[holding answer 22 January 2007]: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement on 27 November 2006, Official Report, columns 82-86WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police community support officers and (b) police officers were recruited to Humberside police force in each year since 2002. (117153)

The available data are given in the following table.