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The provisional head count of officers in England and Wales is 133,131, according to Home Office figures to the end of June. This includes 4,336 hired as part of the 20,000 pledge. Although the number of officers is rising there are still 10 percent fewer on duty compared with peak numbers just over a decade ago. John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “This increase in officers was desperately needed. However, as important as recruitment of new officers is, the retention of those we have is just as important.

“Experienced officers are leaving for a variety of reasons, more must be done to ensure we don’t lose that valuable experience.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who met new recruits during a visit to North Yorkshire yesterday, said: “As we’ve seen from the frontlinevirus, the work of each and every police officer helps to save lives and I would like to extend my gratitude to them, and to the new recruits, for joining the service and being a part of this heroic effort.”

The recruitment campaign is 72 percent towards meeting its first year target of 6,000 by March 2021, the Home Office said.

So far, 89,950 applications have been received since the campaign launched in October. Overall, 9,327 officers have joined since November.

Meanwhile, the number of special constables dropped by 10 percent in the past year, from 10,642 down to 9,571.

And figures show that 20,343 were on duty in 2012.

Comment by Priti Patel

Since day one as Home Secretary, it has been my mission to back our outstanding police.

To empower them to deliver the safer streets and cuts in crime that the British people wanted and deserved.

So when we took office just over a year ago, the Prime Minister and I pledged to recruit 20,000 extra officers.

We visited West Midlands Police together to set out our ambition, and yesterday went to North Yorkshire to see just how far we have come.

Today I can confirm that we are ahead of track, and more than 22 percent towards our three-year recruitment target.

A total of 4,336 additional officers have already joined the police as part of our campaign.

Police workforce statistics show the largest annual increase in officer numbers in more than 15 years. And we have the highest proportion of BAME and female officers since records began. But we know there is more to do, and I am writing to police to ask them to accelerate their efforts on diversity.

The Prime Minister and I were honoured to meet some of these new recruits yesterday. Their willingness to step up and serve is humbling.

I will continue to back the police to the hilt and do everything in my power to protect those who protect us.

Because if my one year as Home Secretary has taught me anything, it is that our police are the best in the world.

And that the Government, the police and the British people all have the same ambition.

More bobbies on the beat. Less crime. And safer communities for all of our loved ones.

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