A recruitment drive for extra police in Leicestershire and Rutland has seen 89 extra officers join the force.

The recruitment drive launched by central government a year ago now means Leicestershire and Rutland Police now have 2,114 officers.

And the numbers are set to be bolstered by further recruitment as the Government works to meet its target of 20,000 new police officers nationally by 2021.

Government statistics published today reveal 5,824 extra officers have joined the police in England and Wales over the last year.

The new statistics also show that the police workforce is now more diverse than ever before, with 10.7 per cent of new recruits identifying as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, and with 9,842 of all officers now being from these groups.

Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, said: "Each of these officers will make a difference in cutting crime locally and protecting our communities. These extra officers are especially welcome as we approach the winter months and opportunistic criminals seek to exploit the increased hours of darkness.

"I will continue to urge my colleagues in Government to support the Police in implementing tangible and effective methods to combat organised rural crime – and that it is recognised as such- to ensure our are feels the full benefit of a substantially bolstered Police force."

Alongside the recruitment campaign, the Government is also boosting police pay by 2.5 per cent this year, equivalent to a constable receiving an extra £1,100, providing officers with an increase above inflation for the second year running, which it says is the largest pay rise in a decade.

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The Government is also enshrining a new police covenant into law, which it says will offer enhanced support and protection for frontline officers, and is bringing forward legislation to double the maximum sentence for those convicted of assaults on frontline staff including police officers, firefighters and paramedics.

Other steps to support frontline officers include a £1.1 billion funding boost for police forces this year – said to be the biggest increase in a decade, funding to provide over 8,000 more officers with Taser devices, and personalised new stop and search powers so that officers can effectively target repeat offenders.