Record Police Numbers Hit in England and Wales
England and Wales have more police officers on the beat than ever before. New government figures reveal nearly 150,000 officers are now on duty—3,500 above the 2010 peak. This is thanks to the delivery of the 2019 manifesto pledge to recruit 20,000 extra officers by March 2023.
Diverse Police Force Reflects Communities
The police force is becoming more representative of the public it serves. There are over 53,000 female officers, making up 35.5% of the force—an all-time high. Officers from ethnic minority backgrounds have also surged, hitting a record 8.3% (over 12,000 officers). Since the recruitment drive kicked off, the number of ethnic minority officers has jumped by 43% across England and Wales.
Leaders Praise Historic Recruitment Effort
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: “When I stood at the steps of Downing Street six months ago, I made clear that I will do whatever it takes to build a better future for everyone in the UK, with stronger communities and safer streets. Today we have delivered on that promise with more police officers than at any time in our history.”
Home Secretary Suella Braverman: “This is an historic moment. More police on the beat means stronger crime prevention, better burglary solving, and cracking down on antisocial behaviour. The new officers are changing the face of policing by reflecting our communities.”
Crime and Policing Minister Chris Philp: “We’re not just putting more officers on the streets—we’re equipping them properly and holding them to account. Since 2010, crime has halved, and these new recruits will drive it down even more.”
NPCC Chair Gavin Stephens: “Recruiting over 46,000 officers in three years is incredible. These new officers bring skills, experience and diversity, making a real difference every day.”
Crime Drops as Police Strength Grows
Since 2010, overall crime in England and Wales has fallen by 50% (excluding fraud and computer crimes). Theft is down 20% since March 2020, homicides and knife crime have decreased by 8%, and domestic burglary is 30% lower.
Stop and search, weapon surrender schemes, and other tactics have removed 90,000 knives from the streets since 2019. The ‘Grip’ programme has boosted police patrols in violent crime hotspots, and violence reduction units have prevented over 136,000 offences while supporting vulnerable young people.
Police have shut down more than 3,500 county lines drug operations since November 2019, making over 10,000 arrests and safeguarding thousands.
More Support and Smarter Policing Ahead
Thousands of new officers have already strengthened teams tackling child abuse, sexual assault, violence against women and girls, and community safety. The government is also cutting bureaucracy with new crime recording rules, freeing up an estimated 443,000 police hours a year.
Efforts continue to ensure police only attend mental health incidents when serious harm or criminality is involved, focusing resources where they matter most.
With thousands of extra officers and smarter use of police time, England and Wales are stepping up to keep communities safer than ever.
