3,468 new officers were recruited in London over the past three years – 76% of the target of 4,557 new officers in the area reports Sonja Tutty, Data Reporter

Police officers pictured from behind - as Met Police fails to meet recruitment targets set by the government following its 2019 election pledge

The Met Police was the only force in England and Wales not to meet the government’s recruitment target for new officers, new figures show.

It comes as the Prime Minister said the government has delivered on its 2019 promise to recruit 20,000 additional police officers.

However, the Police Federation of England and Wales said the increase in new officers does not mean the force is a “stronger, healthily staffed” service.

Home Office figures show 3,468 officers were recruited through the programme in London as of March – 76% of the target of 4,557 new officers in the area.

It was the only force to not meet its recruitment target.

The data also shows there were 35,411 total police officers for the area in March 2023, a 3% increase from 34,542 the year before.

Government hits police recruitment target at national level

Nationally, a total of 20,951 extra recruits joined police forces in the past three years, in the wake of a Conservative election manifesto commitment to have 20,000 additional officers in post by March 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “When I stood at the steps of Downing Street six months ago, I made clear that I will do whatever it takes to build a better future for everyone in the UK, with stronger communities and safer streets.

“At the heart of that pledge is recruiting more police officers than at any time in our history, and today we have delivered on that promise.”

Home Secretary Suella Braverman added this is a “historic moment” for the country.

She said: “These new officers are changing the face of policing. They are more representative of the communities they serve and this offers a unique chance to deliver the highest standards and common sense policing expected by the public.”

The figures show a record number of female police officers across the country, with more than 53,000 at the end of March.

Similarly, there were about 12,000 police officers from an ethnic minority background – more than ever before.

In the Met Police, there were 11,181 female officers (32% of the force) and 6,001 officers identifying as an ethnic minority (17%).

Steve Hartshorn, PFEW national chair, said the Government has “backfilled” the more than 21,000 officers cut in 2010.

He added: “The effect of these cuts has been felt and seen by the public and our officers have been suffering the consequences. Due to rising attrition rates, we would need closer to 50,000 new officers to cover these losses.

“The smokescreen doesn’t stand up to scrutiny,” he said.

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