Police Officer Numbers 2026-07-13
2026-07-13
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
MP asked about the number of police officers in his constituency and how it changed over time.
What estimate her Department has made of the number of police officers in September 2024 and 2025. The Minister confirmed a reduction under this Government, and there are concerns that becoming part of a regional force will decrease public confidence.
In England and Wales, there were 146,868 full-time equivalent police officers as of September 2024 and 145,550 police officers as of September 2025. This Government are focused on putting officers where the public expect to see them: back on the frontline.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
MP expressed concerns that the proposed regional police force would reduce public confidence due to less accountability.
How does merging Essex into a regional force increase public confidence in policing when there is already concern about fewer officers?
This morning we announced funding for an additional 500 police officers. A review by Lord Bernard Hogan-Howe is looking at both local policing units and regional-level units, including the national police service.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures to improve public confidence not provided
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
MP welcomed new officers in Cleveland but requested an overhaul of the national police funding formula to support local needs.
The MP welcomed the addition of 48 neighbourhood officers, but asked for clarification on when the outdated funding formula will be changed and more officers deployed.
The funding formula is outdated. We are reviewing it as part of our reform programme. As soon as we have an announcement, we will bring it forward.
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Assessment & feedback
Timeline for changing the funding formula not provided
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
MP questioned the decrease in police numbers under the current government despite Labour's promise to increase them, citing a specific drop of 1,318 officers.
The MP highlighted that under the previous Government, police numbers reached a record high but have since fallen. He asked if the Minister is doing anything to protect response policing officer numbers.
The previous Government cut police officers by 20,000 before recruiting 20,000 and putting 12,000 behind desks. We have put 1,300 officers back on the streets, with a goal of adding 13,000 more by the end of this Parliament.
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Assessment & feedback
Measures to protect response policing officer numbers not specified
Under Review
Comparison
Response accuracy