London Police See Officer Numbers Drop After Recruitment Drive Ends

The Met Police had 710 fewer officers this past year. This data measures from the year to September. A government recruitment drive ended recently. It seems officers are leaving for other reasons now.

The Police Federation says pay is a problem, adding that working conditions also push officers away. The Federation urges the Government to act fast and stable, long-term funding is needed, they say. The prior recruitment drive ended in March 2023.

London’s Met Police had 34,296 officers in September compared to 35,006 officers the year before. That’s about 384 officers for every 100,000 London residents. Officer numbers fell across England and Wales, too.

England and Wales had 148,900 officers total, a figure that dropped by 278 from the previous year. The peak was 149,800 officers in March. People are leaving the police force, they believe.

The acting chair of the Police Federation spoke out, citing unfair pay and poor conditions. She claims officers feel a lack of support and the organization wants a sustainable funding solution.

The Met Police lost 708 full-time officers this year, a stark contrast to last year when they only lost -16 full-time officers. Across England and Wales, officer numbers decreased with full-time officer numbers falling to 146,900 in September.

That was the lowest number since September 2022. The total police workforce did increase slightly, which includes staff and community support officers This went up 0.2% between March and September.

The Prime Minister pledged £100 million for neighbourhood policing. The aim is to have 13,000 new officers in local communities by Parliament’s end. The Home Office also commented on the issue.

They want visible policing on the streets again and aim to give every community a local officer they know. They are committed to protecting overall officer numbers and plan to deliver an extra 13,000 officers.