Police force bolstered with 6,620 extra officers

The government is bolstering the police with extra officers and resources to cut crime and keep communities safe, with an additional 6,620 officers have joined forces across England and Wales.

Latest figures show progress from the launch of the police recruitment campaign up to the end of December, meaning that the government’s campaign to recruit 20,000 additional officers over the next three years remains ahead of schedule, having exceeded the target to recruit 6,000 officers by March.

In addition to this, Home Secretary Priti Patel has also announced an additional £20 million to help crack down on ‘neighbourhood crimes’ like burglary, robbery, theft and vehicle crime. This funding forms the second round of the Safer Streets fund, which launched in January last year. It will be open to both Police and Crime Commissioners and local authorities and go towards local-crime cutting interventions in residential areas.

Patel said: “I am delighted we have exceeded our own target to recruit 6,000 additional police officers by March 2021. Keeping our streets is my absolute priority and many of these new officers are already on our streets helping to fight the coronavirus pandemic, and for that they get my huge thanks. These new officers, on top of further funding to tackle crimes such as burglary, robbery and vehicle crime will ensure the police have the powers, tools and resources they need to cut crime and make you feel safer in your community.”