Stephen Metcalfe MP joins Stanford-le-Hope Town Centre Policing Team & welcomes 135 extra officers for Essex

22 Oct Stephen Metcalfe MP joins Stanford-le-Hope Town Centre Policing Team & welcomes 135 extra officers for Essex

Stephen Metcalfe has met with the new Stanford-le-Hope Town Centre Policing team as the Government has announced 135 new extra officers for Essex Police for next year. The extra 135 officers will be in addition to the 368 extra officers currently being recruited as a result of the increase in the police precept and puts Essex Police well ahead of their recruitment targets.

This increase in the number of new officers, combined with more efficient operations, have allowed Essex Police to establish new community policing teams. They will work closely with local businesses and support groups to get to the root of ongoing community issues and tensions such as drug dealing and antisocial behaviour.

Strengthening police numbers is a priority for the Government by providing £750 million to support forces to recruit up to 6,000 additional officers onto our streets by the end of 2020 to 2021.

Essex will be able to recruit an additional 135 officers over current recruitment targets as part of the first stage of the Prime Minister’s unprecedented drive to increase police ranks by 20,000 over the next 3 years.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst said: “This latest Government announcement is good news for the people of Essex. It means we will have the funding for Essex Police to recruit an extra 135 Officers on top of the 368 extra Officers currently being recruited as a result of the increase in the police precept.

“Essex Police are already well ahead of their recruitment target of 3218 by April 2020 and with this additional funding the total number of Officers will reach at least 3353 by March 2021. This is excellent news and further cements our commitment in the Police and Crime Plan to deliver more local, visible and accessible policing for the people of Essex.”

“I will continue to work closely with Stephen Metcalfe MP and thank him for his support for Essex Police.”

Stephen Metcalfe said: “People have made their concerns known to me for some time: They rightly want local, recognisable officers on the beat, not stuck behind desks dealing with paper work. It was a pleasure to meet the new Town Centre Policing Teams in Stanford-le-Hope who can fulfil that local role people have been asking for.

“The Government announcement of 135 extra officers for next year and the 368 officers that are currently being recruited by Essex Police represents the largest boost to Essex Police numbers in more than a decade. These additional Officers will make a real difference to people and communities across Basildon and Thurrock.

“I thank the Prime Minister for his unprecedented commitment to increase Police ranks.”