New figures released by the Home Office on Wednesday have revealed the number of police officers patrolling the streets has fallen across England and Wales, with more than 1,300 lost over the past year.
The data reveals that as of September there were 145,550 full-time equivalent officers, down from 146,868 twelve months earlier – a reduction of just under one per cent.
That equates to roughly three officers leaving the service every day since Labour took office.
The figures represent a sharp reversal from the peak of 147,745 officers recorded under the previous Conservative government, with overall numbers now down by around 2,200 from that high point.
Reacting to the figures, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Phil said: “Police Officer numbers have dropped 1,318 in just a year under Labour.
“The total number of people involved in policing has dropped 3,000.”
He described the figures as “a day of shame for Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood whose plans earlier this week had nothing to say about increasing or even maintaining overall police numbers.”
Mr Philp warned that “falling police officer and police staff numbers means fewer police to investigate crimes, patrol the streets and respond to 999 calls.”
On average, three police officers have left the service every day since Labour took office
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He added that “the last Conservative government achieved record ever police numbers in March 2024” before accusing the Government of squandering that achievement.
“Labour has destroyed that legacy and police numbers are now falling fast,” he said.
“Thanks to Labour and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the public will be less safe.”
The decline extends beyond frontline officers, with the figures showing that police community support officer numbers have dropped by more than 200 under the current Government.
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Chris Philp described it as a ‘day of shame’ for the Home Secretary
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Special constables – unpaid volunteers with full police powers – have fallen by 514, an 8.8 per cent annual drop, leaving around 5,300 nationwide.
Civilian police staff numbers have also decreased, falling by 529 to approximately 81,700.
However, the number of officers and PCSOs working in neighbourhood policing roles rose to 19,500 by the end of September – an increase of 2,383 in six months.
The figures come just days after Ms Mahmood announced proposals to cut the number of police forces from 43 and create a new National Police Service focused on serious crime and counter-terrorism.
Ms Mahmood unveiled ‘the most significant changes to policing in this country in nearly 200 years’ on Monday
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Unveiling the sweeping reforms to Parliament on Monday, Ms Mahmood described it as “the most significant changes to policing in this country in nearly 200 years”.
A spokesman for the Home Office said: “These figures show almost 2,400 more neighbourhood officers across the country in the past six months – getting police out on the streets, where the public want them.
“The last Government left 12,000 warranted officers stuck behind desks in support roles.
“This Government is restoring neighbourhood policing by putting 13,000 more neighbourhood police on the streets this parliament, and has increased police funding by nearly £2billion.”