The Conservative Government and Labour Police and Crime Commissioner are failing to deliver the promised 504 more police officers for South Yorkshire

Analysis of Home Office statistics by the Liberal Democrats has shown that a total of 361 extra officers have been recruited by South Yorkshire Police under the Government’s uplift programme that started in September 2019.

It also reveals that South Yorkshire Police only recruited an extra 31 officers under the campaign in the last three months – fewer than are needed to meet the pledge of 20,000 more officers nationwide by March 2023.

To meet the target of 504 by March 2023, that rate would have to increase to 16 per month over the final nine months of the programme.

Sheffield’s Liberal Democrats have slammed the government for failing to keep their promise to communities, adding that there needs to be a return to full and proper community policing.

Responding to the figures, Laura Gordon, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Sheffield Hallam, said:

“When I knock on doors and talk to people, crime is one of the main issues that come up, but people in South Yorkshire are being let down and taken for granted by the Conservative government and Labour Police and Crime Commissioner.

“With so many local crimes going unsolved, we desperately need more police on our streets and in our communities.

“Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to proper community policing, where officers are visible, trusted and known personally to local people.”

“The Conservatives’ pledge to boost police officer numbers looks set to become yet another of their broken promises. They are letting down victims of crime and our communities right across our area.”