Alok Sharma, the Member of Parliament for Reading West, has welcomed the announcement that 522 police officers have been recruited in the Thames Valley since September 2019.

The latest figures are part of the Government’s drive to get 20,000 more police officers on the street by March 2023, and puts the Government on track to fulfil its Manifesto commitment with 77 per cent of the target now met.

Across the 43 police forces, an additional 15,343 officers have been recruited and are tackling crime and keeping communities safe across the country.

The latest figures also show that the police are more representative of the communities they serve. There are now more female police officers than since records began with over 50,000 women in forces across England and Wales. Of the recruits hired since April 2020, 42.5 per cent are women.

The 15,343 extra officers will support the 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 Act – reducing crime, protecting victims, and making the country safer.

This Government is continuing to deliver on tackling crime – including boosting police funding to £16.9 billion and boosting police officer pay, with every police officer receiving a £1,900 uplift to their salary this year.

Alok Sharma said: 

“I have seen first-hand how hard our local police officers work every day to keep the streets of Reading West safe.

“An additional 522 police on our streets will play a huge role in pursing criminals, keeping neighbourhoods safe, protecting victims, and reassuring the law-abiding.

“The Government is delivering on its promises to the British people – showing it is only the Conservatives that can be trusted to keep Britain’s streets safe.”

Image by Ashley Youngs from Pixabay