THE number of Hampshire police officers quitting the force has rocketed over the past four years.

Figures showing that 64 officers resigned in 2005/6 and 53 in 2006/7 compared with just 35 in 2002/3, have been published by the Liberal Democrats.

The 83 per cent increase in resignations in Hampshire between 2003 and 2005 was higher than the 62 per cent average rise across England.

The statistics came from Home Office figures and were given to Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesman Nick Clegg MP in a Parliamentary Written Answer.

He blamed the rising numbers of resignations on increasing levels of bureaucracy.

The Home Office added that the figures for 2002/3 did not include information for the first quarter of the year, though admitted they still showed a marked increase.

However, commenting on the figures, Councillor Jacqui Rayment, chairman of Hampshire Police Authority, said the number of officers joining the force was still greater than the number leaving.

She said: "The police authority keeps a very close eye on recruitment and retention of officers through its personnel committee.

"In 2006/07, the constabulary recruited 249 student officers and, in addition to other joiners such as transfers, the total number coming in was 344. This more than covered resignations, retirements, transfers out and so on, which totalled 246."