Essex Police has been bolstered by an additional 101 officers since the Government launched the major police recruitment drive over a year ago, new figures show.
The addition of these new officers brings the total number of police across Essex up to 3,316, meaning there are now more frontline officers on our streets to keep the public safe.
The news was welcomed by James Duddridge MP on Thursday, 28th January.
Since the launch of the Government’s recruitment campaign one year ago, a total of 6,620 extra officers have joined police forces across England and Wales.
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.
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.
This recruitment drive is at the centre of the Government’s commitment to back the police with more resources, powers and support to keep the public and their communities safe.
Alongside the recruitment campaign, the Government has announced the second round of the Safer Streets Fund, backed by £20 million 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 £636 million 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.
Commenting, James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, said:
"Keeping the streets of Rochford and Southend East safe is a priority and I am pleased that in just over a year, the Government has already delivered an additional 101 officers for Essex Police.
"These officers are going to make a big difference in our fight against crime and I know that more will follow as the Government continues with its promise to recruit 20,000 more police officers over the next three years."
Photo: James Duddridge MP out on patrol with Essex Police officers in Rochford in 2019.
