Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to put 3,000 new neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs on the beat by March 2026, in what he calls the “first step” towards ending the postcode lottery in policing.
Speaking during a visit to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, Sir Keir said the move is part of a wider effort to make police “visible, on the beat, and serving their communities” rather than “stuck behind a desk or taken away to plug shortages elsewhere”.
The new intake will include 2,500 police officers and nearly 400 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) across England and Wales. The recruitment drive is backed by a £200 million investment, with targeted hiring in areas such as Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire and Somerset.
Summer Crime Blitz to Tackle Shoplifting and ASB
As part of the push, the government is also rolling out a £66 million “summer crime blitz”, aimed at tackling shoplifting, pickpocketing, phone theft and anti-social behaviour in town centres. Officers will be deployed to patrol during peak times, typically Friday and Saturday nights, as part of a visible crackdown on low-level but high-impact crime.
The prime minister said that visible policing has collapsed in recent years, and highlighted the worrying statistic that 90% of all crime goes unsolved. With over a million reports of anti-social behaviour made in the last year alone, the summer initiative is intended to rebuild public confidence.
“We’ve got to end this culture of crime that is destroying our communities,” Sir Keir said.
13,000 Officers by 2029, But Can Forces Afford It?
The recruitment of 3,000 officers is just the beginning of Labour’s broader pledge to add 13,000 neighbourhood policing roles by 2029, a key part of its manifesto at last year’s general election.
Each neighbourhood will eventually have named local officers responsible for developing tailored plans with residents and businesses. An anti-social behaviour lead will be appointed in every police force.
However, police forces are facing significant financial strain, with the National Police Chiefs’ Council warning of a £1.3 billion shortfall in the next two years. Some forces have already raised concerns about having to cut existing roles in 2024.
In response, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the government’s approach stating:
“Overall, we’re investing more than a billion extra in policing this year compared to last year. That covers National Insurance costs, pay increases, and ensures support for police forces across the country.”
Political Reactions: Support, Skepticism and Warnings
Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised Labour’s “jobs tax”, warning that employer National Insurance hikes could cause a £118 million shortfall, risking 1,800 police jobs.
Liberal Democrats said “the proof will be in the delivery”, cautioning that the government must not pass the cost onto residents through higher council tax.
Reform UK dismissed Labour’s priorities, saying forces have “wasted millions on diversity and inclusion staff” instead of focusing on frontline policing.
Meanwhile, Green MP Sian Berry warned that community officers could be “set up to fail” if the government fails to address cuts to youth services and other critical frontline support.
