Statement on Police Uplift figures from the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner

Today the Government has announced the national Police Uplift figures. Dorset Police has surpassed the target originally set by the government and now, more than 1440 officers are now serving the residents and communities of our county.

Back in 2019, the Government announced plans to recruit an additional 20,000 police officers across England and Wales by the end of March 2023 and as part of that programme Dorset was set a target to recruit 166 new officers. Dorset has gone on to over-achieve its target and now there are 174 new recruits that have joined Dorset over the last 3 years.

The Police and Commissioner for Dorset, David Sidwick said: “For a small force like Dorset this is a great achievement. This is the largest intake of trainee officers in Dorset since the creation of Police and Crime Commissioners back in 2012 and I am proud to be able to say to the residents and communities of our county that my pledge to them, when standing for election as Commissioner, to make ‘Policing more Visible and Connected’ is materialising.

“Today as the Uplift figures were announced, I will have had the privilege of attending one the ‘Passing Out’ parades for some of the new recruits and I would like to thank each and every one of them on behalf of the people of Dorset for the role they have decided to take in keeping our people, our communities and our county safe.”