Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the recruitment for 20,000 new police officers will start ‘within weeks’ in England and Wales.
The Prime Minister said that new front line officers campaign will start in September.
Mr Johnson plans to create a national policing board to make sure that forces meet the recruitment targets on time. He also plans to take further moves to tackle the rise in knife crime, he is pledging to give police greater stop-and-search powers.
Ahead of a regional visit to launch the police recruitment drive, Mr Johnson said: “My job as prime minister is to make our streets safer.
“People want to see more officers in their neighbourhoods, protecting the public and cutting crime. I promised 20,000 extra officers and that recruitment will now start in earnest.”
Ms Patel, a controversial choice for home secretary after her previous backing for capital punishment, said: “Officers up and down the country put themselves in danger every day to keep us safe, they deserve our support.
“The rise we’ve seen in serious violence is deeply worrying. An additional 20,000 officers sends a clear message that we are committed to giving police the resources they need to tackle the scourge of crime.
“This is the start of a new relationship between the government and the police working even more closely together to protect the public.”
Many police forces are worried they do not have enough training instructors and police stations to support an expansion. Others are worried that the new rules for recruits to have a degree or study for one on the job could limit the number of applicants.
