MATT Vickers, MP for Stockton South has welcomed the announcement that Cleveland has been provided with an additional 116 officers since the Government launched its major recruitment drive in September 2019.

Since the start of the recruitment campaign, a total of 4,336 extra officers have joined police forces across England and Wales as a direct result of the recruitment drive.

The Government remains on track to hit its manifesto commitment of 20,000 extra officers by 2023, and that forces have successfully accelerated their recruitment plans to meet their target of 6,000 more officers by March 2021.

In total since March 31, 2019, the police workforce has grown by 5 per cent – the largest annual increase in officer numbers since 2003-04 – with forces becoming more diverse and representative of the communities they serve, as a result of the highest proportion of black, Asian and minority ethnic officers, as well as female officers, joining since records began.

Mr Vickers said: “Every one of these officers will make an enormous difference in helping to cut crime and keep people safe – and I am reassured that many more will follow as this Government continues to deliver on its promise to recruit 20,000 more over the next three years. By backing our police with the funding, powers and resources they need, we will keep the public and our communities safe, so that people everywhere can live their lives free from the fear of crime. As we’ve seen from the frontline response to the coronavirus, the work of each and every police officer helps to save lives and I would like to extend my gratitude to them."