Conservatives failing to deliver the promised 4,557 extra police officers for London

Analysis of Home Office statistics by the Liberal Democrats has shown that a total of 2,952 extra officers have been recruited by the Metropolitan Police under the Government’s uplift programme that started in September 2019.

It also reveals that the Metropolitan Police only recruited an extra 353 officers under the campaign in the last three months – fewer than are needed to meet the Conservatives’ pledge of 20,000 more officers nationwide by March 2023.

To meet the Conservatives' own target of 4,557 by March 2023, that rate would have to increase to 178 per month over the final nine months of the programme.

Waltham Forest Liberal Democrats have slammed the government for failing to keep their promise to communities, adding that there needs to be a return to full and proper community policing.

Responding to the figures, Waltham Forest Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Community Safety, Arran Angus, said:

“People in Waltham Forest are being let down and taken for granted by this Conservative Government. With so many local crimes going unsolved, we desperately need more police on our streets and in our communities.

“Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to proper community policing, where officers are visible, trusted and known personally to local people.”

“The Conservatives’ pledge to boost police officer numbers looks set to become yet another of their broken promises. They are letting down victims of crime and our communities right across our area.”