
Figures released in April show that 3,468 extra police officers have been recruited into the Metropolitan Police as part of the Conservative Government’s manifesto pledge to put 20,000 more officers on the streets.
Since the recruitment drive was launched in 2019, the Conservative Government has now recruited almost 21,000 new police officers in England and Wales, according to new figures published this week (Wednesday 26 April).
The additional police for the Metropolitan Police builds on the Conservative Government’s Beating Crime Plan and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act –reducing crime, protecting victims and keeping our streets safe.
These figures are very welcome – the extra 3,468 police officers which have been recruited for the Metropolitan Police since September 2019, bring the total number of officers in up to 35,411. However, it is really important that Bromley gets it fair share of these new officers, which is something I will work with Council colleagues, the local Members of Parliament and Peter Fortune, Bromley’s London Assembly Member to achieve.
Nationally, the Conservative Government’s Beating Crime Plan will deliver a safer Britain alongside record funding for our police, with a £17.2 billion policing budget for 2023–2024. This is alongside the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Act which is giving the police and courts the powers they need to tackle serious crime head on. The Government is also delivering its Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, backed by £100 million in funding, making our streets and neighbourhoods safer for women and girls.
It is also worth noting that since 2010, crime excluding fraud has been cut by over 50% – making our communities safer. Theft has been reduced by 20% and domestic burglary by 30 per cent. So far 90,000 knives off our streets through stop and search, surrender initiatives and targeted police action since 2019. There is of course more to do but these are all very positive steps in the right direction.
My ward colleagues, Alexa Michael and Andrew Lee, and I work closely with the Hayes & Coney Hall Safer Neighbourhood Team to relay any concerns across the area and we recently worked with local MP Bob Stewart to help secure the ban of Nitrous Oxide, something linked closely with anti-social behvaiour in our local parks and high streets. We are currently campaigning to secure a new Police vehicle for the Hayes and West Wickham teams to share, you can sign the petition at https://www.beckenhamconservatives.com/Police-Van.