Jack Brereton MP has welcomed the announcement that 201 police officers have been recruited in Staffordshire since September 2019, bringing the total number of officers up to 1,849.
The latest figures are part of the Conservative Government’s 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 per cent of the target now met.
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 figures also show that the police are more representative of the communities they serve. More than four in ten new recruits since April 2020 are 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 Conservative Government’s crack down 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 by the Conservative Government since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister two years ago – including boosting police funding to a record £15.8 billion and delivering £70 million through the Safer Streets Fund to make neighbourhoods secure.
Commenting, Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent South Jack Brereton said:
“Policing and tackling crime is a top priority of mine and I have been working closely with Staffordshire Police to ensure residents feel safer in our communities. This latest round of police recruitment is very welcome in our city and I Staffordshire is leading the country in training up new officers. I know more police on the frontline in Stoke-on-Trent, patrolling our streets will help to significantly reassure people that there is no place for criminals to hide in our city.
Recently, I shadowed our great police officers and saw first-hand the amazing work they do. Having an increase in officers locally on the frontline will better help our police in their efforts and I will continue to support Staffordshire Police in their important work.”
Commenting, Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
“When this Government took office in 2019, we made a promise to the British people to recruit 20,000 extra police officers to cut crime and keep communities safe - and we are delivering on that pledge.
“These extra officers are getting out on the streets helping to cut crime and protect communities up and down the country – and they are reflecting the communities they serve better than ever before, with the highest ever proportion of female officers and officers from diverse backgrounds out there making a difference.
“Our Beating Crime Plan will give these officers the powers they need to stop crimes happening, support victims and keep serious offenders in prison for longer – keeping the streets safer for all.”
