Govt lags behind key 20,000 police officer pledge by over 3,400
EMBARGO: Immediate Release
New Police uplift statistics from the Home Office have revealed that the Government would need to double its police recruitment efforts in the next three months to meet its 20,000 targets as it lags behind by 3,427.
The Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservatives for being on track to break their key 2019 manifesto promise to recruit 20,000 new police officers by the end of March 2023.
The Government’s flagship crime policy lags behind the total by 3,427 - with only 3 months left to go.
Analysis from the Liberal Democrats shows to meet the target of 20,000 by March 2023, the Government would have to hire 130% more officers each month, up from 494 extra officers a month over the last six months to 1,142.
The most recent statistics reveal that 17 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales have failed to recruit a single new officer in the last 2 months.
Responding, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said:
"The Conservatives are too busy dealing with sleaze and scandal to properly tackle crime festering in our communities. They are letting down people across the country with their failure to recruit police officers and tackle crime.
“Victims right across the country will be left without confidence in this Government and it's all because of these broken promises and failures.
“Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to proper community policing where people feel safer in their areas and the Government is focused on cutting crime instead of squabbling in Downing Street.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Police officer uplift, England and Wales, quarterly update to 31 December 2022: data tables
