Some 20,951 extra recruits joined police forces in the past three years.
More than 20,000 new police officers have been hired in England and Wales – meeting a Conservative manifesto pledge – but Britain’s biggest police force missed its individual target.
A total of 20,951 extra recruits joined police forces in the past three years, in the wake of a Conservative election manifesto commitment to have 20,000 additional officers in post by March 2023, according to provisional Home Office figures.
Out of 43 forces, the Metropolitan Police was the only one to miss its individual target, falling short by about 1,000. It was tasked with hiring 4,557 new officers but had provisionally recruited only 3,468 in the period.
In 2019 we promised to recruit 20,000 additional police officers in England and Wales to make our streets safer and protect communities.
Today, I’m pleased to say we have delivered that promise. pic.twitter.com/y4RiF5cQiL
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 26, 2023
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Twitter: “In 2019 we promised to recruit 20,000 additional police officers in England and Wales to make our streets safer and protect communities. Today, I’m pleased to say we have delivered that promise.”
Opponents previously claimed the Government was lagging behind its promised to replace thousands of jobs cut during austerity measures.
