- Newly released figures show that 744 police officers have been recruited in West Yorkshire as part of the Conservative Government’s pledge to put 20,000 more officers on the streets by March 2023.
- Since the recruitment drive was launched in 2019, the 43 police forces across England and Wales have seen an additional 15,343 police officers recruited, putting the Government on track to deliver on its manifesto promise.
- This builds on the Conservative Government’s Beating Crime Plan and Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act – aimed at reducing crime, protecting victims and making the country safer.
Cllr David Hall has welcomed the announcement that 744 police officers have been recruited in West Yorkshire since September 2019.
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 77 per cent of the target now met.
Across the 43 police forces, an additional 15,343 officers have been recruited – tackling crime and keeping communities safe across the country.
The latest figures also show that the police are more representative of the communities they serve. There are now more female police officers than since records began with over 50,000 women in forces across England and Wales. Of the recruits hired since April 2020, 42.5 per cent are women.
The 15,343 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 Act – reducing crime, protecting victims, and making the country safer.
This Conservative Government is continuing to deliver on tackling crime – including boosting police funding to £16.9 billion and boosting police officer pay, with every police officer receiving a £1,900 uplift to their salary this year.
Commenting, Cllr Hall said:
I work closely with West Yorkshire Police and I know how hard they work every day to keep the streets of Kirklees safe.
An additional 744 police on our streets will play a huge role in pursuing criminals, keeping neighbourhoods safe, protecting victims, and reassuring the law-abiding majority.
This Conservative Government is delivering on its promises to the British people – showing it is only the Conservatives that can be trusted to keep Britain’s streets safe.
Commenting, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:
As Home Secretary, my first priority is to protect the British public from harm and I am absolutely steadfast in my determination to drive down crime.
That’s why I am delighted the government is on track to deliver 20,000 additional police officers by March 2023, with 15,343 already recruited to bring criminals to justice.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for forces to become more representative of the communities they serve and I am heartened to see there are now over 50,000 women in forces across England and Wales for the first time.
With the extra officers recruited I want to continue to see forces doubling down on tackling murder, serious violence and neighbourhood crimes which tear communities apart.
Notes to Editors
- Home Office figures show 15,343 extra police officers have been recruited nationally in Q3 2022 – making up 77 per cent of our 2019 manifesto target (Home Office, News Story, 26 October 2022, link).
- Home Office figures show there are now over 50,000 women in the 43 police forces across England and Wales (Home Office, News Story, 26 October 2022, link).
- Home Office figures show 744 extra police officers have been recruited in West Yorkshire since September 2019 (Home Office, Official Statistics, 27 October 2022, link).
- The Government has promised to recruit 20,000 extra police officers by 2023. The police recruitment drive is the biggest in decades and follows the Prime Minister’s commitment to increase police numbers over the next 3 years (Home Office, News Story, 5 September 2019, link).
- The Government’s Beating Crime Plan and Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act introduce a range of reforms to policing in England and Wales. Measures include increased tagging to reduce repeat and substance-fuelled offences, and ensuring that offenders give back to their communities through unpaid work (UK Government, Beating Crime Plan, 27 July 2021, link).
- The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act has introduced tougher sentences for criminals and provides additional resources to police. Measures include additional powers to tackle disruptive protests, increased sentences for the most dangerous offenders, and additional protections for women and girls (Home Office, Policy Paper, 7 July 2021, link).
- The Safer Streets Fund has already committed £70 million in making our streets safer. This is focused on preventing neighbourhood crime, crime in public spaces and violence against women and girls (Home Office, News story, 18 March 2022, link).
