Cambridgeshire Police ranks boosted by 114 extra officers so far thanks to Government campaign

By December, Home Office figures say that the Cambridgeshire force has gained 114 extra recruits, part of 504 additional officers so far across the East of England region.

The additional officers will boost the 1,526 already on the force’s books.

In a statement, the Home Office said it was on track and ahead of schedule to deliver its promised 20,000 more bobbies.

It says an additional 6,620 officers have joined forces across England and Wales since the launch of the campaign following Boris Johnson taking over as Prime Minister. This exceeds the target to recruit 6,000 officers by March 2021.

Cambridgeshire’s new officers are already helping to keep people safe by supporting the police response to the pandemic, stepping up enforcement against those flouting rules to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

A total of 150 trainee officers completed their training for Cambridgeshire just before Christmas - that includes a number who will backfill existing vacant positions.

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesman explained that as part of the uplift they have been allocated 62 new officers in year one (which finishes at the end of March), 61 in year two and then 83 in the final year, which totals 206.

“We have already recruited above our first year target, which is great, so we’re already into the year two allocation.

“We always have to balance recruiting new officers with those leaving and make sure that the surplus meets our uplift targets, which we are doing so far.”

He added: “Any increase in officer numbers is good news for Cambridgeshire and will be invested in an enhanced policing service.

“These extra officers will bolster the front line, providing extra resources to policing our neighbourhoods and supporting our ability to prevent and detect crime, and keep communities safe.

“At a time of ever-growing demand on policing, the uplift will also support our commitment to building trust and confidence within our communities.”

On Thursday the Home Secretary announced an additional £20 million to help crack down on ‘neighbourhood crimes’ like burglary, robbery, theft and vehicle crime.

This funding forms the second round of the Safer Streets fund, which launched in January last year. It will be open to both Police and Crime Commissioners and local authorities and go towards local crime cutting interventions in residential areas.

This includes simple changes to the design of high-crime areas, such as improved home security, increased street lighting and the installation of CCTV.

The announcement will bring total investment in Safer Streets to £45m over two years, with the aim of supporting even more areas that are disproportionately affected by neighbourhood crime with the tools to deliver tangible and sustainable impacts.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “I am delighted we have exceeded our own target to recruit 6,000 additional police officers by March 2021.

“Keeping our streets is my absolute priority and many of these new officers in the Eastern region are already on our streets helping to fight the coronavirus pandemic, and for that they get my huge thanks.

“These new officers, on top of further funding to tackle crimes such as burglary, robbery and vehicle crime, will ensure the police have the powers, tools and resources they need to cut crime and make you feel safer in your community.”

The Safer Streets fund will be made available from police reallocations, and will be open to a bidding round where both Police and Crime Commissioners and Local Authorities will be able to bid, provided they commit to close partnership working with each other.