11,000 police hired with more women than ever before

More than half of the promised 20,000 additional police officers have now been recruited, with an increasing number of women signing up to join forces across England and Wales.

The Home Office has said that an extra 11,053 officers have been hired across England and Wales as part of the Police Uplift Programme to help bring crime down and keep neighbourhoods safer, meaning that the government is now 55 per cent of the way to meeting its recruitment target of 20,000 additional officers by March 2023.

Between July and September 2021, female officers accounted for 45 per cent (1,451) of all new recruits. Eight forces – Derbyshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, Sussex, Thames Valley, Kent and Suffolk – have hired more women than men over the last year.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Two years ago, this government made a promise to the British people to put 20,000 extra police officers on our streets - and we are delivering on that pledge. I am delighted that today we are more than halfway towards our goal, with an additional 11,053 police officers already recruited to our forces.

“These extra officers have meant police forces can set up new units tackling crime and protecting vulnerable people – including supporting those who have suffered rape and sexual assault. These officers are already on our streets, cutting crime and keeping our communities safe.”