Rachel has welcomed new figures which show police officer numbers in West Mercia have hit their highest level on record.
There are now 2,494 officers serving in West Mercia after 330 officers were recruited as part of the Government’s mission to boost police numbers by 20,000 across England and Wales.
West Mercia Police has not only met the Government’s uplift target, but they have exceeded it.
Officer numbers have increased by 508 since John Campion, Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia, was first elected in 2016.
Boosting police numbers to historic highs is part of the Government’s wider plan of action to tackle crime across the country.
The Government’s Beating Crime Plan will deliver a safer Britain alongside record funding for our police, with a £17.2 billion policing budget for 2023 –2024. This is alongside the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Act which is giving the police and courts the powers they need to tackle serious crime head on. The Government is also delivering its Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, backed by £100 million in funding, making our streets and neighbourhoods safer for women and girls.
Since 2010, crime excluding fraud has been cut by over 50% - making our communities safer. Theft has been reduced by 20% and domestic burglary by 30%. The Government has also taken 90,000 knives off our streets through stop and search, surrender initiatives and targeted police action since 2019.
Rachel said:
“When I was re-elected in 2019, I promised to support the recruitment of more police officers, and the Government and our Police and Crime Commissioner have delivered.
“Never have there been more police officers serving in West Mercia. That means more police on our streets in Redditch and the Villages to keep you safe.
“It’s clear it is only the Conservatives who can keep our streets safe, give people peace of mind, and deliver on the priorities of the people of Redditch and the Villages.”
