WEST Mercia Police has been bolstered by an additional 93 officers.
The new officers brings the total number of police across West Mercia up to 2,164.
Since the launch of the Government’s recruitment campaign a year ago, a total of 6,620 extra officers have joined police forces across England and Wales.
The news brings the number of police officers in England back closer to their level in 2013 at 125,000, but still considerably lower than where they were in 2010, when the Conservative / Lib Dem coalition came to power – when there were 139,000 officers on the beat.
However this latest recruitment drive means the Government remains fully on track to meet its manifesto commitment of recruiting 20,000 extra officers by 2023.
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.
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.
Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “As my constituents made very clear at the last election, they want to see more police on the streets of Redditch, and despite the challenges of the pandemic, this Government is getting on with delivering on our manifesto commitments.
“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.”
