Over 11,000 police hired nationally, with more women than ever before.

More than half of the promised 20,000 additional police officers have now been recruited, the Home Office announced today (Wednesday 27 October), with an increasing number of women signing up to join forces across England and Wales.

An extra 11,053 officers have been hired across England and Wales as part of the Police Uplift Programme to help bring crime down and keep neighbourhoods safer, meaning that the Government is now 55% of the way to meeting its recruitment target of 20,000 additional officers by March 2023. 

This breaks down to around 521 extra police officers hired for the Greater Manchester Police force, over the last few years. 

More women joined the ranks to tackle criminals and protect the public from harm between July and September 2021 – with female officers accounting for 45% (1,451) of all new joiners during that time. 

And over the last year eight forces – Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Sussex, Thames Valley, Kent and Suffolk – have hired more women than men. This means more officers on the streets bringing down drugs gangs, bearing down on violent crime and tackling anti-social behaviour. 

There are also more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic officers employed across forces than at any other time in the country’s history, now making up 7.9% (10,690) of all officers.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Everyone should have the security and confidence that comes from having a safe street and a safe home, which is why cutting crime is an essential part of our mission to level up this country.

“We’re now over half way to meeting our target of recruiting 20,000 police officers by 2023. By getting more officers out on the street and backing them with the powers they need to keep people safe, we’re getting on with the job of making our country safer.” 

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "Two years ago, this Government made a promise to the British people to put 20,000 extra police officers on our streets - and we are delivering on that pledge. I am delighted that today we are more than halfway towards our goal, with an additional 11,053 police officers already recruited to our forces.

“These extra officers have meant police forces can set up new units tackling crime and protecting vulnerable people – including supporting those who have suffered rape and sexual assault.

“These officers are already on our streets, cutting crime and keeping our communities safe.”

Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “These additional 11,000 police officers are much welcomed by the service. 

"It is particularly pleasing to see the increase in female and Black, Asian or other minority ethnic officers joining us, as policing becomes more reflective of the people that we serve.

“There is still much more to do as we work to build trust and confidence and continued investment into recruitment of additional police officers will support this.”

Chief Constable Andy Marsh, chief executive of the College of Policing, said: “The latest recruitment figures are very welcome andextremely positive.

"They demonstrate that despite the challenges of the pandemic policing has been able to continue to bring new officers into the service at pace and in large numbers. 

“I want the very best training and professional development for all our officers and staff.

"I am proud the College of Policing’s new training for police constable recruits has already been adopted by the majority of police forces across England and Wales, which means many of these new officers will have benefitted from the up-to-date training that reflects the breadth and complexity of the challenging, and important role they are undertaking.”

Anyone interested in applying to their local force can search ‘Join the Police’ to find out more.

 

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