[holding answer 26 February 2010]: The available data are provided in the table. Figures are not collated on a monthly basis. Therefore, quarterly figures have been provided.
The total number of joiners on an annual basis and other related data are published annually as part of the annual Police Service Strength Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin can be found at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
and bulletins for this and previous years are deposited in the Library of the House.
Financial year Quarter Total 2007-08 Q1 1,416 Q2 1,921 Q3 1,923 Q4 2,721 Total 7,981 2008-09 Q1 1,960 Q2 2,441 Q3 2,175 Q4 3,297 Total 9,873 Notes: 1. Quarterly figures are provisional and have not been verified by forces. 2. Figures include the following types of joiners: ‘Standard Direct’, ‘Rejoining’, ‘Previously Special Constable’ and ‘Transfer’. 3. This table contains full-time equivalent figures for the 43 forces of England and Wales. They have been rounded to the nearest whole number.