Mel Stride MP has welcomed the announcement that 229 extra police officers have been recruited in Devon and Cornwall since September 2019, bringing the total number of officers up to 3,394. The recruitment drive is part of the Government’s goal to get 20,000 more police officers on the beat by 2023 – a manifesto commitment made in 2019. Across the 43 police forces in England and Wales an additional 11,053 officers have been recruited, meaning the Government is on track to meet this target.
Mr Stride said:
“While the crime rate in England and Wales is about 15% lower now than it was 20 years ago, it has been on the rise again in recent years. It is difficult to say how much of this is down to increased reporting – for example six times as many rape victims are now reporting the crime to the police than two decades ago. But what is clear is that the police are spending more time investigating more complex crimes, including more sexual offences and cybercrime and additional manpower and resources are needed.”
More than 40% of the new recruits across the country are women and more than 10% are from minority backgrounds, meaning forces are becoming more representative of the communities they serve.
Mr Stride has previously spoken in support of the The Police Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill currently passing through the House of Commons, which will give the police the resources they need to crack down on crime, longer sentences for the most dangerous offenders, and stronger protections for women and girls.