The Chairman of West Ham Conservatives, John Oxley, has welcomed the announcement that 1,708 police officers have been recruited in London since September 2019, bringing the total number of officers up to 33,651. The latest figures are part of the Conservative Government's drive to get 20,000 more police officers on the street by 2023.

In total, an extra 9,814 police officers have been recruited across all 43 police forces in England and Wales, bringing the total number of police officers in England and Wales up to 138,574 - where they are already having an impact in tackling crime and keeping communities safe.

The recruitment drive is also helping to make police more representative of the communities they serve. More than 6,000 female officers have been recruited since April 2020, making up more than four in ten of all new recruits.

There are also more black, Asian and other ethnic minorities employed as officers across forces than at any other time in the country's history, making up over one in ten of the new recruits.

The latest figures follow the launch of the Conservative Government's Beating Crime Plan - aimed at reducing crime, protecting victims and making the country safer.

The plan includes ensuring each neighbourhood has named, contactable police officers, who know their area and are best placed to ensure that persistent crime and anti-social behaviour is tackled - a pledge made more possible by the increase in police numbers.

This builds on the action taken by the Conservative Government since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister two years ago - including boosting police funding to a record £15.8 billion, passing the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill through the House of Commons, and delivering £45 million through the Safer Streets Fund to make neighbourhoods secure.

Commenting, John Oxley said:

At the last general election the Conservatives stood on a manifesto that committed to putting 20,000 more police officers onto our streets - and these figures show how we are delivering on that promise.

The 1,708 extra police officers for London will help to cut crime, keep neighbours secure, and reassure the law abiding majority that they are safe.

These officers - alongside the new Crime Beating Plan - shows how I and the Conservative Government are delivering on the people's priorities here in West Ham.

Commenting, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

I am delighted we are already almost half-way there in delivering our commitment of 20,000 more police officers to fight crime by 2023.

These figures aren't just numbers. It means that thousands more police are out in communities protecting people, making our streets safer and supporting victims through some of the most difficult experiences of their lives.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

It is fantastic that we are well on track to meet our target of recruiting 20,000 extra police officers by 2023. These 9,814 officers are already making a difference in neighbourhoods up and down the country, bearing down on criminals and keeping people safe.

This increase in police numbers and the Beating Crime Plan we launched yesterday show the Government's determination to back the police, give them the powers they need to take away knives, shut down drug gangs and protect communities and vulnerable people from harm.

Notes

• Home Office figures show 9,814 extra police officers have been recruited nationally in Q2 2021. (Home Office, Official Statistics, 28 July 2021)
• Home Office figures show 1,708 extra police officers have been recruited in London since September 2019. (Home Office, Official Statistics, 28 July 2021)
• The Government has promised to recruit 20,000 extra police officers by 2023. The police recruitment drive is the biggest in decades and follows the Prime Minister's commitment to increase police numbers over the next 3 years. (Home Office, News Story, 5 September 2019)
• Crime fell by 9 percent between March 2019 and March 2020. The Office for National Statistics figures, which are calculated via the Crime Survey for England and Wales, state that crime fell by 9 percent in the year ending March 2020, comprised of significant falls in theft (12 percent) and criminal damage (13 percent), whilst almost all other crime saw a non-significant fall. (Office for National Statistics, Crime in England and Wales: year ending March 2020, 17 July 2020)
• The Government's Beating Crime Plan introduces a range of reforms to policing in England and Wales. £45 million is being invested in both mainstream and specialist schools, residents will be provided with the contact details for their local police officer, and Section 60 powers will be relaxed to allow for knives to be taken off the streets. (UK Government, Beating Crime Plan, 27 July 2021)
• The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has introduced tougher sentences for criminals and provides additional resources to police. It will end the automatic halfway release for serious violent or sexual offenders, introducing Whole Life Orders for the premeditated murder of a child, strengthen police powers to stop unauthorised encampment and non violent protests. (Home Office, Policy Paper, 7 July 2021)