Since statistics have been kept, there have been more female police officers serving the public and pursuing criminals than the 50,364 women who now make up the 43 police forces or 34.9% of the entire workforce. 42.5% (13,326) of the recruits hired since April 2020 are women.
With 15,343 more police hired so far, or 77% of the goal, the government is on course to meet its manifesto vow to hire 20,000 additional cops by March 2023.
Positive changes are already being made by the new recruits in forces all around England and Wales. For instance, in response to the Police Uplift Programme, Avon and Somerset Police increased the number of officers responding to rape and sexual assault through Operation Soteria, and Lancashire Constabulary increased the size of its team of Missing From Home Community Safety Officers to find missing children and safeguard those at risk of exploitation.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “As Home Secretary, my first priority is to protect the British public from harm and I am absolutely steadfast in my determination to drive down crime.
“That’s why I am delighted the government is on track to deliver 20,000 additional police officers by March 2023, with 15,343 already recruited to bring criminals to justice.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for forces to become more representative of the communities they serve and I am heartened to see there are now over 50,000 women in forces across England and Wales for the first time.
“With the extra officers recruited I want to continue to see forces doubling down on tackling murder, serious violence and neighbourhood crimes which tear communities apart”.
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Workforce Diversity and Representation, Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Kearton, said: “Reaching 50,000 female police officers is a really positive milestone. The uplift programme has seen many more women apply to join policing across a range of roles and responsibilities.
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“We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds – regardless of their age, gender, race, faith or sexual orientation. By increasing diversity, we will better represent our communities and those who we police by consent.
“We know that more needs to be done to ensure that women see policing as an attractive career and as we continue through the police uplift, we hope this positive increase continues”
According to a recent Home Office survey, 90% of new recruits who joined the police as part of the government’s recruitment campaign are satisfied with their jobs, 79% of new recruits say their expectations for joining the police were met or exceeded, and 81% say they plan to remain in the police for the rest of their working lives.
Voluntary resignation rates in the policing profession are modest at 2.5% compared to comparable positions in the public sector.
This year, the total amount allocated to the police has climbed up to £1.1 billion, giving the policing system up to £16.9 billion. Additionally, this year every police officer received a pay boost of £1,900 or an 8.8% raise for those on the lower income bands.
To guarantee that forces are able to hire the extra officers needed to keep communities safe, the government has worked with chief constables and the college to modernise, standardise, and strengthen the recruitment process. All recruits must fulfil the requirements established by the College of Policing.
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