Rishi Sunak pledges 8,000 new neighbourhood police officers

9 June 2024, 22:04 | Updated: 9 June 2024, 22:06

Rishi Sunak has pledged a return to 'bobbies on the beat' as he pledged to recruit 8,000 more neighbourhood police officers
Rishi Sunak has pledged a return to 'bobbies on the beat' as he pledged to recruit 8,000 more neighbourhood police officers. Picture: Alamy

By Chay Quinn

Rishi Sunak has pledged a return to 'bobbies on the beat' as he promised to recruit 8,000 more neighbourhood police officers if the Tories win the general election.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Prime Minister said "more bobbies on the beat" with greater powers would help drive down crime.

The Tories said the plan would be funded in part by increasing visa fees by 25% and making overseas students pay a higher level of immigration health surcharge.

Read More: Tories pledge to cut rising welfare bills with NHS cash boost and disability benefits reform

Read More: Labour's Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry refuses to rule out spending cuts over 'triple lock' pledge

The Prime Minister highlighted the Tory record of recruiting 20,000 officers since 2019, although this matched the number of officers lost during the years of austerity after 2010.

Mr Sunak said: "Our new 20,000 new police officers since 2019 have made a huge difference, with neighbourhood crime down 48% as a result.

Rishi Sunak MP - British Prime Minister - leaving Downing Street for Prime Minister's Questions, 19th April 2023
The Prime Minister said "more bobbies on the beat" with greater powers would help drive down crime. Picture: Alamy

"We will now go further by hiring 8,000 more police officers, each one dedicated to their local community.

"People deserve to feel safe in their neighbourhood.

"More bobbies on the beat and increased powers will give police forces the tools they need to drive down neighbourhood crime even further."

The Tories plan to press ahead with extra powers for officers to crack down on so-called zombie knives and use GPS tracking technology to search for stolen phones without a warrant which were included in the Criminal Justice Bill which was halted when Mr Sunak called the General Election.

Labour has set out a goal of having an extra 13,000 constables and police and community support officers (PCSOs) involved in neighbourhood policing.

But the Tories said this means only 3,000 extra full-time police officers, with the rest made up of PCSOs, officers redeployed to neighbourhood teams and volunteer special constables.

Mr Sunak said: "Labour has no plan and no idea how to fund more police officers."

The Tory policy for England and Wales would see 2,000 extra officers recruited a year, reaching the target of 8,000 in 2027-28.

London, England, UK. 7th June, 2024. Shadow Home Secretary YVETTE COOPER is seen departing via side door of the venue where shadow cabinet meet with union representatives for the last shape of
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper dismissed the plan as "another empty promise from a desperate Tory party". Picture: Alamy

The total annual cost will reach £818 million in 2029/30, the Conservatives said.

Hiking visa fees and removing the student discount will raise £600 million in 2024/25, the Tories said.

The immigration health surcharge is currently £1,035 a year, but students get a discount and pay £776.

The Conservative plan would amend the law so the extra money raised can be spent on wider costs, but it is promised that the funding currently raised by the surcharge will remain earmarked for the NHS.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper dismissed the plan as "another empty promise from a desperate Tory party".

"The Tories have repeatedly promised more police on the beat but instead they have cut 10,000 neighbourhood police, 90% of crimes are going unsolved, prisons are in crisis and more than twice as many people now say they never see the police on the beat," she said.

"Meanwhile the Tories' funding sums are a fudge that seem to depend on continued high migration which they promised to bring down.

LONDON, UK. 15  March, 2022 . Alistair Carmichael  Liberal Democrats Member of Parliament for Orkney and Shetland Credit: amer ghazzal/Alamy Live News
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael said 6,000 crimes were still going unsolved every day. Picture: Alamy

"Labour has a costed and funded plan to put 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs back on the beat, by cutting back-office waste."

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael said 6,000 crimes were still going unsolved every day.

"The Conservatives have already failed to protect our communities from crime," he said.

"From slashing community officer numbers into oblivion to funnelling millions into pet projects instead of bobbies on the beat, Conservative ministers have got their priorities all wrong for years."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Storm Bert has begun to make an impact with snow closing roads

Storm Bert to wreak more havoc as more than 200 flood warnings issued across the UK for Sunday

Island nations which are vulnerable to climate change and some African countries have stormed out of COP29 in a row over funding.

Deal struck for $300bn for developing countries at COP29 after talks had looked set to collapse

A number of unidentified drones have been spotted over three airbases in Britain, the United States Air Force (USAF) has confirmed.

Security alert after unidentified drones spotted above three US-run RAF bases

Two-thirds of Brits support the assisted dying bill which are set to be voted on in the House of Commons next week.

'Two-thirds support assisted dying bill' poll claims after Justice Secretary expressed concerns about proposals

Russia is prepared to launch a flurry of cyber attacks on Britain and other NATO members to weaken resolve in support for Ukraine, minister Pat McFadden is set to warn the alliance.

Russia 'prepared to bash Britain with massive cyber attack', ministers to warn NATO conference

Exclusive
Singer Kate Nash says she has joined adult content site OnlyFans to sell 'pictures of [her] arse' in an interview with LBC's Natasha Devon.

'Sex work is really empowering': Singer Kate Nash tells LBC why she sells photos on OnlyFans

The UK is on a 'slippery slope to death on demand', Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said in a letter to constituents.

'Slippery slope to death on demand': Justice Secretary details concern over assisted dying debate

Novak Djokovic has appointed Andy Murray as his coach for the Australian Open.

Andy Murray to coach old rival Novak Djokovic at Australian Open after retiring in August

Island nations which are vulnerable to climate change and some African countries have stormed out of COP29 in a row over funding.

Negotiators from climate-vulnerable nations walk out of COP29 in row over funding deals

Putin has said he will fire more of Russia 's new hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine

Kremlin warns 'a collision between the nuclear powers' is imminent as West fires missiles into Russia

Coleen Rooney on I'm A Celeb

'Wagatha Christie strikes again': Coleen Rooney uncovers I'm A Celeb secret as she calls out campmates

Chloe Barlow is one of the small business owners who will be affected by the change

'It's a mess': Small businesses hit out at EU red tape set to cost thousands, and say 'government has been no help'

Foreign tourists ride on boat in a river in Vang Vieng

Laos government 'saddened' by deaths of tourists in Vang Vieng which include South London woman

Leading brands are dumping Captain Tom Moore’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore

Top brands distance themselves from Captain Tom’s daughter after she cashed in on her father's legacy

Euston station has reopened

Euston station reopens after bomb squad carry out 'controlled explosion'

At least 11 people have been killed and more than 60 injured, Lebanon's health ministry has stated

Huge Israeli air strikes hit residential building in central Beirut, killing at least 11 people