The force isn't with Bristol police

A bizarre request under the Freedom of Information Act reveals there are no police officers in Avon and Somerset who are following the Jedi faith.

Jedi holy warriors are the heroes of George Lucas's ever-popular series of Star Wars films who defend the republic from the evil Sith.

The request read: "How many current police officers and police staff in your force have declared their religion as Jedi?"

The reply read: "Your request for information has now been considered and I can confirm that Avon and Somerset Constabulary have no police officers or police staff who have declared their religion as Jedi."

When the last national census was taken, a national campaign was launched telling people that if 10,000 people put their faith as "Jedi", it would become an official religion.

So many people entered "Jedi Knight" on their census form that the Office of National Statistics assigned it an official numerical code, 896, denoting it as a religion within the "other" category.

The Freedom of Information Act was introduced in 2005 to allow the public greater access to facts and figures, and is more typically used to uncover statistics about expenditure or performance.

But as anyone is able to make a request, it has been used in more unusual ways.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary have said the cost of dealing with freedom of information legislation was £60,000 per year, after a dramatic increase in the number of requests in recent years.

Notable Jedi include Obi Wan Kenobi, played by Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor, and of course the green-skinned Yoda.

But what Bristol lacks in Jedi, it makes up for in Sith with our very own Dave Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original trilogy of movies.

Mr Prowse, 73, was born in the city and although he didn't voice the famous villain, he did wear the iconic black suit.

So synonymous is he with Bristol that calls were made last April to erect a permanent statue of Darth Vader in Broadmead.

Matthew Savage, who runs Moss collectibles shop in Wells Road, had hoped the statue could be installed as part of the £11-million work to upgrade Broadmead ahead of the opening of Cabot Circus.