OVER 1,000 bobbies will be on the beat in Warwickshire for the first time in a decade.
Warwickshire Police will recruit an extra 41 frontline officers by April 2021 following government funding. It comes on top of an extra 150 officers funded by increases in the police’s share of council tax in the last two years.
The funding means the force will have 1,012 officers – achieving a key target of Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe.
He said: “People I meet tell me they want to see more police officers on our streets, dealing with the issues which matter most to them while also tackling less visible crimes.
“This is therefore exceptionally good news for communities across Warwickshire, who will welcome seeing more police officers to help keep their communities safe.”
He added the new recruits meant the force would have the highest ever headcount in its 162-year history, reversing cuts which had seen officer numbers drop to below 800.
Asst Ch Con Alex-Franklin-Smith said: “This uplift in officer numbers will help us better protect our communities and meet the demands and complexities of policing today.
“This gives us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to increase the diversity of our workforce, attracting and retaining the best staff from a range of backgrounds to serve the public.”