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What are the real figures on police officer recruitment?

The Independent

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August 29, 2023

Much is made of the government's claim to have delivered on a manifesto pledge to recruit an additional 20,000 police officers in England and Wales.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

What are the real figures on police officer recruitment?

Ministers touring broadcast studios often cite the achievement as evidence of the Conservatives' tough stance on crime. But Suella Braverman ran into trouble repeating the claim as she touted her announcement that police would be ordered to investigate every theft and follow every “reasonable” lead in solving crime.

On Sky News, Jayne Secker took the home secretary to task over whether her figures stack up. So how many new police officers has the government actually recruited?

The pledge

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