PM plans to recruit 20,000 police officers

26 July 2019

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to recruit 20,000 new police officers in England and Wales.

He wants the recruitment drive to begin within weeks and to be completed in three years.

Mr Johnson, who was officially appointed Prime Minister on Wednesday, wasted no time in fulfilling the pledge to boost officer numbers he made while campaigning tobecome Conservative Party leader.

Geoff Bardell, chair of Hertfordshire Police Federation, has welcomed the Prime Minister’s plans.

“Since 2010, the Government’s austerity measures have meant police funding has been slashed. Forces have been faced with difficult decisions as they have tried to maintain effective policing services despite budget cuts,” says Geoff.

“Nationwide, we have lost around 20,000 officers and that has had a massive impact as can be seen by soaring crime figures and increased levels of stress and mental health issues among police officers.

“Thankfully, here in Hertfordshire, we have not lost the numbers of officers that other forces have witnessed, but that has only been made possible by increases to council tax. I hope now, that with a proper investment in policing and officer recruitment, we can ease the pressures on our police officers as they serve their communities. 

“For far too long, they have been over-stretched which has had an impact on their health and also on the service they have been able to provide for their communities.”

Despite the recruitment drive, the College of Policing has already warned of ‘logistical challenges’ in taking on the new recruits, in part due to concerns about a lack of instructors for training.

Chief executive Mike Cunningham said it was not just about ‘getting people through the doors’ but also about the assessment process, recruitment campaigns, vetting and training.

Mr Johnson has announced a national policing board, chaired by the new home secretary, Priti Patel, would be formed to support the recruitment plans and bring together police leaders.

As part of the new Prime Minister’s Cabinet re-shuffle, Nick Hurd has been replaced as policing minister by Kit Malthouse.

Mr Malthouse, who during Mr Johnson’s time as Mayor of London served as his deputy mayor for policing from 2008 to 2012, admitted in an interview on Radio 4 this morning that taking on the new recruits could be delayed if there is nowhere for them to be based. Due to the Government’s cuts, more than 600 police stations across England and Wales have been shut down.