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Yorkshire Times
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1:16 PM 10th October 2019
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Northern Powerhouse Minister Backs Ambitious Targets To Recruit New Police Officers Across North Yorkshire

 
Jake Berry MP
Jake Berry MP
Plans to recruit 58 new police officers in North Yorkshire as part of the first wave of new targets to boost police numbers across by 20,000 across England and Wales have been welcomed by Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, Rt Hon Jake Berry MP.

Strengthening police numbers is a declared priority for the Government, which is providing £750 million to support forces to recruit up to 6,000 additional officers across England and Wales by the end of 2020-21, the first stage in this new uplift.

Police forces in Yorkshire and the Humber will be able to recruit a total of 562 new officers as part of the first wave which will see over 1,700 new officers across the Northern Powerhouse.

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, said: “Police officers in North Yorkshire and across the country do an incredible job fighting crime and keeping people safe.

“People want to see more police on their streets and this government is supporting forces with £750 million to recruit the first wave of extra officers. This will see police numbers strengthened by over 1,700 across the Northern Powerhouse, including 58 new officers in North Yorkshire.

“As we prepare for Brexit on 31 October we are delivering on the public’s top priorities.”

The recruitment targets announcement follows the establishment of a £25 million Safer Streets Fund.

Police and Crime Commissioners can bid for funding to prevent burglary and theft in crime hotspots through initiatives that could include interventions to improve home security, such as installing better locks and gating alleyways, and making streets better lit at night, for example.

It also follows the Home Office extending a pilot to make it simpler for forces to use Section 60 serious violence stop and search powers and announcing a £20 million package of actions cracking down on county lines drug gangs.

The Home Office has also announced £10 million of funding to increase the number of officers carrying Taser to keep themselves and the public safe and said plans for a police covenant will focus on the physical protection of officers, their health and wellbeing and support for their families.