Rutland and Melton MP Alicia Kearns has welcomed the announcement that Leicestershire and Rutland Police has been joined by an additional 89 officers since the Government launched its major police recruitment drive a year ago.
Leicestershire and Rutland Police now has a total of 2,114 officers and is set to be bolstered by further recruitment as the Government works to meet its target of 20,000 new police officers by 2021.
The statistics published today reveal 5,824 extra officers have joined the police in England and Wales over the last year and confirm the Government is on track to meet its manifesto commitment over the next three years.
The new statistics also show that the police workforce is now more diverse than ever before, with 10.7 per cent of new recruits identifying as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, and with 9,842 of all officers now being from these groups.
Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, said:
“Each of these officers will make a difference in cutting crime locally and protecting our communities. These extra officers are especially welcome as we approach the winter months and opportunistic criminals seek to exploit the increased hours of darkness.
“I will continue to urge my colleagues in Government to support the Police in implementing tangible and effective methods to combat organised rural crime – and that it is recognised as such- to ensure our are feels the full benefit of a substantially bolstered Police force.”
Alongside the recruitment campaign, the Government is also boosting police pay by 2.5 per cent this year, equivalent to a constable receiving an extra £1,100, providing officers with an increase above inflation for the second year running, the largest pay rise in a decade.
The Government is also enshrining a new police covenant into law, which will offer enhanced support and protection for frontline officers, and is bringing forward legislation to double the maximum sentence for those convicted of assaults on frontline staff including police officers, firefighters and paramedics.
Other steps to support our frontline officers include a £1.1 billion funding boost for police forces this year – the biggest increase in a decade, funding to provide over 8,000 more officers with Taser devices, and personalised new stop and search powers so that officers can effectively target repeat offenders.
Alicia Kearns MP continues her work to ensure organised rural crime is recognised and combatted as such.
