Crawley MP welcomes 269 extra police officers recruited in Sussex to keep streets safe

Newly released figures show that 269 police officers have been recruited in Sussex as part of the Government’s pledge to put 20,000 more officers on the streets by March 2023.

Since the recruitment drive was launched in 2019, the 43 police forces across England and Wales have seen an additional 13,790 police officers recruited, putting the Government on track to deliver on its manifesto promise.

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 fulfilling its manifesto commitment with 69 percent of the target now met.

Mr Smith said: “From working with our local police force and discussing with the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne, I know just how valuable 269 more police officers will be in helping crack down on crime in our local community.

“The 269 additional recruits mean there are now 3,018 police officers in Sussex, helping to pursue criminals, keep neighbourhoods safe, and reassure the law-abiding majority.

“This Government is rightly working to keep people safe and deliver on the priorities of the British people.”

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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 nearly 12 percent of new recruits identify as belonging to a Black, Asian, Mixed, or other minority ethnic group.