The government says it’s on track to recruit 20,000 more police officers across England and Wales by 2023 as it delivers on its promise – so far.
Wiltshire Police has so far seen an uplift of 27 recruits, as 6,620 officers join 43 forces. A total of 49 new officers should be policing the county within the next two years.
Of the new recruits, many will already be out supporting the ongoing police response to the pandemic, helping to stop the spread of coronavirus by assisting with enforcement action against those flouting the rules.
The recruitment drive is at the centre of the government’s promise to back the police with more resources and support to cut crime, and today the Home Secretary 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.
This includes simple changes to the design of high-crime areas, such as improved home security, increased street lighting and the installation of CCTV.
The announcement will bring total investment in Safer Streets to £45m over two years, supporting even more areas that are disproportionately affected by neighbourhood crime with the tools to deliver tangible and sustainable impacts.
National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair Martin Hewitt: “These additional officers are most welcomed and have already started to make their difference in our communities.
“We are more representative than ever before but still have a long way to go before we truly represent those we serve.
“I would like to thank those who have worked with us to achieve this number of 6,620 additional officers, in particular policing networks and associations.”
