Mayor calls for action after police officer numbers fall

Liberal Democrat Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor has raised concerns that the Conservative MP and Police and Crime Commissioner are failing to recruit and retain enough police officers.

Newly released Home Office police recruitment numbers which cover the last three months to September show a reduction in the number of Hertfordshire officers and a shortfall in the number of new recruits under the government’s uplift programme.

The Conservative government promised 20,000 more officers, including 304 in Hertfordshire. However, despite some new officers being recruited, the total number of officers across Hertfordshire has fallen, down from 2,273 in October 2021 to 2,261 in September 2022.

Responding to the new data, Liberal Democrat Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said:

“Local police officers work very hard for the community but we need more of them in Watford. It is really shocking that in Watford we have fewer police today than a year ago, despite promises to increase the size of the force.

“I have been campaigning for more police in the Town Centre in Watford to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime in the High Street and was pleased the Police and Crime Commissioner agreed to meet me in Watford last week to explain the issues we face. However, the police will not have the capacity they need until we recruit and retain more police officers.”

The Hertfordshire Police Federation have also criticised the government, blaming low morale and poor pay and conditions for the number of officers leaving the Police Service early in their career, and calling announcements on police officers “smoke and mirrors”.