[holding answer 12 June 2009]: The information requested is contained in the following table. The increase in assaults over the last three years should be considered in the light of larger percentage increases in number of police community support officers in post over the same period.
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 Total for all forces providing data 230 141 416 Number of forces providing data 41 28 39 Like-for-like comparison Total for all forces providing data in 2005-06 and 2007-082 208 n/a 396 Number of forces providing data in 2005-06 and 2007-083 37 n/a 37 Number of PCSOs in post in these forces at end of period2 6,130 n/a 13,587 Notes:1 Figures are on a head-count basis. These data are provisional and are unaudited with police forces. Data for 2008-09 will be available later this year. 2 This represents a 90 per cent. like-for-like increase in assaults between 2005-06 and 2007-08, but this should be set against the increases in numbers of PCSOs in post in these 37 forces of 122 per cent. for the same period. 3 The 37 forces exclude Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Greater Manchester, South Wales, Thames Valley and Wiltshire. These excluded forces accounted for 14 per cent. of total PCSO officer strength on 31 March 2008.