MARK Jenkinson has welcomed a clear plan from the Conservatives to recruit 8,000 additional full-time neighbourhood police, keeping communities across Penrith and Solway safe.
The Conservatives have taken bold action over the last 14 years with crime falling by 54 per cent since 2010, and 20,000 new police officers recruited since 2019.
This announcement will build on this success, funding 8,000 more full-time neighbourhood police officers with the full power of arrest – equivalent to an additional police officer for every ward in England and Wales
Mark Jenkinson MP, the Conservative candidate for the Penrith and Solway constituency, said: “Back in 2019, one of my election pledges for the former Workington constituency was to recruit more police and to help tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.
“And I kept my promise. Crime has fallen, and Cumbria now has more police officers than ever before thanks to record levels of Government investment.
“We’ve made national headlines because of the falls in antisocial behaviour, driven by the introduction of our Community Beat Officers, and we’ve been able to create a dedicated rural crime team, and dedicated roads and firearms units.
“This latest pledge from the Government shows that it is prepared to go even further to keep people safe – and that the Conservative Party remains the party of law and order. But this is also a recognition that there is more to do, and that we are not complacent.
“Our police work incredibly hard to support our communities across Penrith and Solway, but we know our police need more resources to keep local residents safe.
That is why I welcome the announcement that the Conservatives will recruit 8,000 more full-time police officers with the full power of arrest, over the double the number Labour has pledged.”
These officers will be specifically focused on policing the local neighbourhood they are assigned to, boosting the visible police presence in communities and helping families feel safer in their area. These strengthened neighbourhood policing teams will ensure every neighbourhood is better protected.
There will also be a new requirement for police forces not to offset these additional officers by diverting police officers already dedicated to neighbourhood duties, to other purposes, ensuring neighbourhood policing is prioritised.
The Conservatives will also roll out the Hotspot Policing Programme nationally following its successful pilot.
In contrast to the Conservatives’ plan to recruit 8,000 full-time neighbourhood police with the full power of arrest, Labour would recruit just 3,000 of these equivalent officers under their pledge, leaving neighbourhood policing teams without the resources they need to keep families in Penrith and Solway safe.
