Michael has welcomed the news that there are nearly 40 more police officers in Dorset.
Dorset has been bolstered by 39 extra officers since the government launched its major police recruitment drive a year ago, new figures show. It brings the total number of police across the force area to 1,306, meaning there are now more frontline officers on our streets to keep the public safe. Since the launch of the recruitment campaign, a total of 5,824 extra officers have joined police forces across England and Wales.
This includes 397 in the South West, taking the total in the region to 9,817.
The statistics confirm that the government remains fully on track to meet its manifesto commitment of recruiting 20,000 extra officers by 2023 and is ahead of schedule to have the first 6,000 in place by March 2021.
The figures also show that the police workforce is now more diverse than ever before, with 10.7% of new recruits identifying as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic. A total of 9,842 of all officers are now from these groups.
The 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. The government is boosting police pay by 2.5% this year, equivalent to a constable receiving an extra £1,100, providing officers with an increase above inflation for the second year running – the largest pay rise in a decade.
The government is also enshrining a new police covenant into law, which will offer enhanced support and protection for frontline officers, and bringing forward legislation to double the maximum sentence for those convicted of assaults on frontline staff including police officers, firefighters and paramedics.
Other steps to support frontline police include a £1.1billion funding boost for forces this year – the biggest increase in a decade – as well as funding to provide over 8,000 more officers with Taser devices and personalised new stop and search powers so they can effectively target repeat offenders.
David Sidwick, the Conservative candidate to be Police and Crime Commissioner in Dorset, said: “Getting more police officers onto our streets is one of the people’s priorities, so I am delighted that in just over a year the government has already delivered an extra 39 officers across Dorset.
“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 the government continues to deliver on its promise to recruit 20,000 more over the next three years.
“By backing our police with the funding, powers and resources they need, we are keeping the public and our communities safe, so people everywhere can live their lives free from the fear of crime.”
He added: “While welcoming the good work so far, we must be mindful that the uplift has to make a difference on the frontline. We want our communities to feel the effect and feel safer.”
