Local MP Maria Miller has welcomed the announcement that 479 police officers have been recruited in Hampshire since September 2019, bringing the total number of officers up to 3300.
The latest figures are part of the drive to get 20,000 more police officers on the street by March 2023, and puts the Government on track to fulfil its manifesto commitment with 68% of the target now met.
Commenting, Maria said:
“From working with our local police force, I know just how valuable more police officers will be in helping crack down on crime in our local community. The additional recruits mean there are now 3300 police officers in Hampshire, helping to pursue criminals, keep neighbourhoods safe, and reassure the law-abiding majority. These figures also reveal that where Labour are in power, they are failing to deliver. Once again this demonstrates that only the Conservatives can be trusted to keep people safe and deliver on the priorities of the British people”.
Across the 43 police forces, an additional 13,576 officers have been recruited, bringing the total number of police officers in England and Wales to 142,526 – where they are already having an impact in tackling crime and keeping communities safe.
The latest UK figures also show that the police are more representative of the communities they serve, with more than four in ten new recruits since April 2020 female and nearly 12 per cent of new recruits identify as belonging to a Black, Asian, Mixed or other minority ethnic group.
The 13,576 extra officers will support the Government’s crackdown on crime, which has seen the launch of the Beating Crime Plan and the passing of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill through the House of Commons. This builds on the action already taken, including boosting police funding to a record £15.8 billion and delivering £70 million through the Safer Streets Fund to make neighbourhoods secure.
