Extra 129 Sussex Police officers ‘will make an enormous difference’ says Lewes MP

Since the launch of the Government’s recruitment campaign one year ago, 6,620 extra officers have joined police forces across England and Wales, Mrs Caulfield said.

These statistics confirm that the Government remains fully on track to meet its manifesto commitment of recruiting 20,000 extra officers by 2023, and has hit the target of recruiting 6,000 new officers by March 2021, well ahead of schedule, she added.

The new statistics also show that the police workforce is now more diverse than ever before, with 10.2 per cent of new recruits identifying as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, and with 9,871 of all officers now being from these groups, Mrs Caulfield told the Express.

She said: “Getting more police officers onto our streets is one of the people’s priorities, and so I am delighted that in just over one year, this Conservative Government has already delivered an extra 129 officers across Sussex Police.

“Every one of these officers will make an enormous difference in helping to cut crime and keep people safe – and I know that many more will follow as this Government continues to deliver on its promise to recruit 20,000 more over the next three years.

“By backing our police with the funding, powers and resources they need, we are keeping the public and our communities safe, so that people everywhere can live their lives free from the fear of crime.”

Alongside the recruitment campaign, the Government has announced the second round of the Safer Streets Fund, backed by £20million of new money, to crack down on neighbourhood crimes that blight our communities.

This funding will enable PCC’s and local authorities to make crime cutting interventions in residential areas to ensure people feel safe in their communities.

Other steps to support frontline police officers include a £636million funding boost for police forces this year, bringing the total for police funding up to £15.8 billion, boosting police pay by 2.5 per cent, equivalent to a constable receiving an extra £1,100, and enshrining a new police covenant into law, which will offer enhanced support and protection for frontline officers.

Sussex Police is set to receive an additional £18.1million in its funding, Mrs Caulfield confirmed.