COP THAT
Rishi Sunak delivers on promise to recruit 20,000 police officers to crackdown on street crime & keep Britain safe
RISHI Sunak has delivered on the Tories' manifesto pledge to recruit 20,000 new cops, according to figures out today.
The PM and Home Secretary Suella Braverman insisted the milestone achievement will make Britain's streets safer.
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It takes the total number of police to a record high of almost 150,000.
At the 2019 general election Boris Johnson made recruiting 20,000 more cops one of the Tories' key manifesto pledges.
And since taking office Rishi Sunak vowed to make cracking down on yobs a key ambition before voters take to the polls next year.
Home Office stats show since 2010 crime has fallen by 50% in England and Wales - but that excludes the chunky categories of computer misuse and fraud.
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Since March 2020 theft has gone down by 20%, homicides and knife crime have dropped 8% and domestic burglary by 30%.
The Home Office also says its County Lines Programme caught more than 3,500 roving drug operations since November 2019.
More than 10,000 mules were arrested, while 5,700 vulnerable participants were referred for safeguarding.
At a major speech in Westminster this morning Ms Braverman described being "in awe" of the police's "everyday bravery".
"Many of us will never comprehend the risk and the jeopardy they place themselves in, day in and day out," she said.
Hailing the new recruitment numbers, she added: "We should be immensely proud of what we've achieved in the last few years.
"Many said we couldn't do it but this is a police success, a Home Office success and a Conservative government success."
The Home Secretary also announced a major plan to stop cops wasting time on woke wars and Twitter spats.
She argued forces should renew focus on fighting crime rather than "policing bad jokes on Twitter".
PM 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 in than at any time in our history, and today we have delivered on that promise.
“Thousands of officers already out in our communities, tackling crime and keeping the public safe.”
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper accused the Tories of taking the public "for fools" by announcing new recruitment stats.
She said the Conservatives cut 20,000 jobs during their time in power, and so the new ones are just refilling the gap.
“With more than 90% of crimes going unsolved, victims dropping out in their millions, and recorded knife crime and sexual violence rising, the Conservatives have no grip on law and order," Ms Cooper argued.
"Only Labour will restore neighbourhood policing with 13,000 extra officers and PCSOs to rebuild safety in our communities.”
But Gavin Stephens, Chair of National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “It is an incredible achievement to have recruited more than 46,000 officers, giving us more than 20,000 additional officers over the last three years.
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"These additional police officers are much welcomed, bringing a breadth of experience, skills and diversity to their communities.
“Those that joined at the start of the programme are now completing training and making a difference every day in forces across England and Wales."
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