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Some 20,951 additional recruits have joined the police force in the past three years. The Metropolitan Police is the only force not to meet a recruitment target set by Boris Johnson. More than 20,000 new police officers have been recruited in England and Wales, fulfilling a Tory manifesto promise, but Britain's largest police force has missed the mark.
A total of 20,951 additional recruits have joined the police force in the past three years, following a conservative election manifesto that promised to have 20,000 more officers in place by March 2023, provisional Home Office figures show.
Of 43 forces, the Metropolitan Police was the only one to miss its individual target, falling short by around 1,000. It was tasked with recruiting 4,557 new officers, but only provisionally recruited 3,468 during the period.
Seven police forces reported provisional numbers at least 20% above their recruitment target.
North Yorkshire had recruited 251 new officers in March 2023 against a target of 194 (29% more), while Thames Valley recruited 784 new officers against a target of 609 (also 29% more).
Devon & Cornwall had a target of 469 and recruited 600 (28% more); Northamptonshire's target was 190 and they signed 237 (25% more); Derbyshire were targeting 283 and signing 351 (up 24%); Avon & Somerset's target was 456 and they recruited 558 (22% more); and Norfolk had a target of 224 and recruited 269 (20% more).
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Twitter: "In 2019 we have committed to recruiting 20,000 more police officers across England and Wales to make our streets safer and protect communities. Today, I am pleased to say that we have delivered on that promise.
Opponents have previously claimed the government is behind on its promise to replace thousands of jobs cut during austerity measures.
Last year, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he was reviewing the force's recruitment targets after questioning whether it was "wise" to quickly recruit thousands of new officers.
Inspectors from police watchdog, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Police and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), said the Metropolitan Police's problems had been exacerbated by the number of young and inexperienced recruits force as a result of the recruitment drive.
Sir Mark's comments came amid concerns about the quality of investigative procedures and the risk of rogue officers infiltrating the ranks.
Former Police Chief Inspector Sir Thomas Winsor warned that the "scale and speed" of the recruitment drive "inevitably carries a risk", adding that there is an "increasing danger that people unfit for police might pass and be recruited."
The Home Office has insisted that all recruits go through a "rigorous" vetting process and must meet national standards to be hired.
The department planned to spend £3.6bn on the recruitment program by March, with a total cost of £18.5bn over the next 10 years, according to Whitehall's spending watchdog.
In June, the National Audit Office (NAO) warned that the recruitment drive would "exacerbate pressure" on a criminal justice system that is "already under pressure" as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
He also said that hiring Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), special constables or law enforcement personnel to fill the positions could lead to openings in other parts of the service.
PA wire
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