The Metropolitan Police is the only force not to meet a recruitment target set by Boris Johnson.
More than 20,000 new police officers have been hired in England and Wales – meeting a Conservative manifesto pledge – but Britain’s biggest police force missed its goal.
A total of 20,951 extra recruits joined police forces in the past three years, in the wake of a Conservative election manifesto commitment to have 20,000 additional officers in post by March 2023, according to provisional Home Office figures.
Out of 43 forces, the Metropolitan Police was the only one to miss its individual target, falling short by about 1,000. It was tasked with hiring 4,557 new officers but had provisionally recruited only 3,468 in the period.
Seven police forces reported provisional figures that are at least 20% over their recruitment target.
North Yorkshire had recruited 251 new officers as of March 2023 against a target of 194 (29% over) while Thames Valley recruited 784 new officers against a target of 609 (also 29% over).
Devon & Cornwall had a target of 469 and have recruited 600 (28% over); Northamptonshire’s target was 190 and they recruited 237 (25% over); Derbyshire had a target of 283 and recruited 351 (24% over); Avon & Somerset’s target was 456 and they recruited 558 (22% over); and Norfolk had a target of 224 and recruited 269 (20% over).
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Twitter: “In 2019 we promised to recruit 20,000 additional police officers in England and Wales to make our streets safer and protect communities. Today, I’m pleased to say we have delivered that promise.”
Opponents previously claimed the Government was lagging behind its promised to replace thousands of jobs cut during austerity measures.
Last year, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he was reviewing the force’s recruitment targets after questioning whether it is “wise” to hire thousands of new officers at speed.
Inspectors at police watchdog His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said problems at the Metropolitan Police had been exacerbated by the number of young and inexperienced recruits in the force as a result of the recruitment drive.
Sir Mark’s comments came amid concerns about the quality of vetting procedures and the risk of rogue officers infiltrating the ranks.
Former chief inspector of constabulary, Sir Thomas Winsor, warned the “sheer magnitude and speed” of the recruitment campaign “inevitably carries risks”, adding that there is a “heightened danger that people unsuited to policing may get through and be recruited”.
The Home Office has insisted all recruits are subject to a “rigorous” vetting process and must meet national standards in order to be hired.
The department expected to spend £3.6 billion on the recruitment programme by March, with a total cost of £18.5 billion over the next 10 years, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog.
In June, the National Audit Office (NAO) warned the recruitment campaign would “exacerbate pressure” on a criminal justice system which is “already under strain” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
It also said hiring police community support officers (PCSOs), special constables or police staff to fill the roles could lead to vacancies elsewhere in the service.
