Richard has welcomed the announcement that 102 police officers have been recruited in Bedfordshire since September 2019, bringing the total number of officers up to 1379.
The latest figures are part of the Conservative Government’s drive to get 20,000 more police officers on the street by 2023, and puts the Government on track to fulfil its manifesto commitment.
Across the 43 police forces, an additional 11,053 officers have been recruited, bringing the total number of police officers in England and Wales to 139,908 – 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 over 11 per cent of new recruits identify as belonging to a Black, Asian, Mixed or other minority ethnic group.
The 11,000 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.
The Beating Crime Plan – aimed at reducing crime, protecting victims, and making the country safer – will see investments in school-based interventions methods, increased tagging to reduce repeat and substance-fuelled offences, and ensures that offenders give back to their communities through unpaid work.
The Police Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill – which is currently passing through the House of Commons – gives the police the resources they need to crack down on crime, including additional powers to tackle disruptive protests, increased sentences for the most dangerous offenders, and additional protections for women and girls.
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, Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire, said:
The 102 additional recruits mean there are now 1379 police officers in Bedfordshire, helping to keep neighbourhoods secure and reassuring the law-abiding majority that they are safe.
