After raising the issue last week with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on his first full day in office, Henry Smith MP has welcomed the Government’s confirmation that the recruitment of 20,000 new police officers will begin within weeks.

Henry said;

“The Prime Minister declared on the steps of Downing Street last week that the new government will work flat out to give Britain the leadership it deserves and that the work begins now.

“I welcome this commitment to recruit 20,000 new police officers in earnest, and questioned the Prime Minister in the House of Commons for further details.”

The Home Office-led drive to deliver more frontline officers will start in September with the launch of a national campaign. The Prime Minister has said he wants recruitment completed over the next three years, with the Government to outline plans for a new national policing board to support this work.

This board will be chaired by the Home Secretary and will bring together key police leaders and will hold the police to account for meeting this target.

Henry Smith, Member of Parliament for Crawley, asked the Prime Minister;

“The vast majority of people in my constituency who voted to leave welcome the Prime Minister’s determination to deliver Brexit. Beyond that we welcome extra police numbers, because we share a concern about rising crime. When will we know the numbers for the different force areas?”

The Prime Minister, Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, responded;

“I say to my hon. Friend that he will know them as soon as possible.”