Police forces across Wales are set to increase patrols and target anti-social behaviour hotspots
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Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Police officers told their pay rises as thousands given inflation-busting wage hikes
Police officers across England and Wales will be handed an inflation-busting pay rise to 'ensure they are properly rewarded for their service', the Home Secretary has said Thousands of police officers will see their wages go up after being handed an inflation-busting pay rise. The government has confirmed a 4.2% pay increase for all police ranks up to chief superintendents in England and Wales - meaning the starting salary for a police constable now will be £31,163. The pay boost will be backed by £120 million in new funding from the Home Office, meaning it will not come out of existing policing budgets. Weighting for London -based police officers will be boosted by 4.2% in response to the "demands placed on officers in the capital", while the Home Office said the rise in pay across the country reflected the "bravery, professionalism and tireless dedication of officers who protect the public". Amid concerns over rising crime and growing pressures on police, the government has provided funding of up to £1.2 billion to police forces this year, including £200 million to put in place an additional 3,000 neighbourhood police officers by next spring. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Our brave police officers work day and night, often making enormous sacrifices, to keep us safe. "This government is proud to back them in doing so and today's pay award is a clear signal of our gratitude, and our determination, to ensure they are properly rewarded for their service. "Policing is the bedrock of a secure Britain and our Plan for Change. We are committed to investing in the frontline and supporting officers who work every day to tackle crime, keep our streets safe and protect our communities." National Police Chiefs' Council Lead for Pay and Conditions, Assistant Chief Officer Philip Wells, said: 'We are pleased that the pay review body recognised the evidence that was presented by chief constables and the pay award that has been announced today is what we believe our officers deserve and reflects the nature of the work they are required to undertake to keep our streets safe. 'Today, the Home Secretary also announced an extra £120 million towards funding the pay award. With more than 85% of police spend being on pay costs, it is vitally important that additional costs for pay are fully funded if we are to maintain services and be able to continue to invest in areas such as neighbourhood policing and technology.' Under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee announced earlier this year, the government has said it will increase the visibility of the police by introducing "named, contactable officers for every neighbourhood", as well as restoring guaranteed police patrols in busy areas at peak times (such as town centres) and create new career pathways through the College of Policing.
Daily Mirror
24-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Police officer fall mapped as bungling top Tory mocked for whining about own record
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has been urged to show some 'humility' after going on the affack after a drop in police that happened on his watch - use our interactive tool to see how you are affected A top Tory has been left red-faced after accidentally attacking his own record in Government. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp went on the attack after official data showed a decline in police officer numbers of 1,316 between March 2024 and March 2025. However closer analysis shows that 1,232 of these posts were lost while he was policing minister last year. After a sharp drop last Spring - when around 400 officers were lost a week - numbers were more stable from the summer. In a video shared on social media, Mr Philp branded the fall "shocking" and said: "Under Labour numbers have fallen by 1,300 already." Labour Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: 'Chris Philp has managed to attack his own record in Government, and advertised cuts to policing that he presided over. He was Policing Minister in a Government which cut PCSOs in half and slashed the number of Special Constables by two-thirds. Some humility would not go amiss. She said he was lucky he made the bungled attack after Kemi Badenoch reshuffled her top team. Dame Diana went on: 'This Labour Government is putting bobbies back on the beat, with a £200m cash injection to fund 3000 more officers and PCSOs this year alone as part of our Plan for Change.' Management information collected by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), officer numbers fell by 1,232 between March 2024 and June 2024 and by 84 between July 2024 and March 2025. In April Keir Starmer announced a 'summer crime blitz' where police will patrol town centres targeting shoplifters, pickpockets, phone thieves and anyone who assaults a shop worker. The government's 'Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee' aims to put 13,000 more officers into neighbourhood roles by 2029, an increase of more than 50%. The PM also said he wanted 3,000 new neighbourhood officers - including 2,500 police officers and nearly 400 police community support officers (PCSOs) - in post by the start of next year. The proposals aim to ensure that every community has its own named, contactable officers, dedicated teams on the beat, and guaranteed police patrols in town centres and other hotspot areas during peak times. It followed a Home Office announcement in January of an extra £100 million for neighbourhood policing in England and Wales. Excluding British Transport Police, there were 146,454 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in England and Wales as of March 31, 2025. While that is less than a 1% fall from the previous year, it represents 1,307 fewer FTE officers. At the same time, PCSO numbers have dropped by 257 (3%), from 7,570 in 2024 to 7,313 FTE roles. The Met Police has seen by far the biggest drop in officer numbers, losing the equivalent of 1,020 FTE police officers. However, the Met did gain 78 additional PCSOs. South Wales Police lost the equivalent of 23 FTE officers and 77 PCSOs. Greater Manchester Police saw a reduction of 30 FTE police officers and 40 PCSOs, and Hertfordshire Constabulary saw numbers drop by 54 officers and 14 PCSOs. But not every force has seen a reduction. Bedfordshire Police gained 24 FTE officers and 10 PCSOs. North Wales Police recruited 17 extra police and 12 community support officers, and while West Yorkshire Police lost 35 PCSOs, the force gained 64 FTE police officers. Compared to the size of the population each force serves, the Met remains the best-resourced police force in the country. For every 10,000 people living in London, there are the equivalent of 39 police and community support officers. The Met is followed by Merseyside Police (30 officers per 10,000 people), Greater Manchester Police (29), and South Wales Police (29). Lincolnshire Police has the lowest ratio of officers to people, with 16 police and PCSOs for every 10,000 of the population. A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We are determined to rebuild neighbourhood policing, and as part of our Plan for Change, will put an extra 3,000 police and Community Support Officers on the beat by Spring next year, backed by a £1.2 billion cash investment. 'Ahead of that, forces across the country are rolling out named, contactable officers and high street patrols at peak times.'
Leader Live
12-07-2025
- Leader Live
National Safer Streets summer campaign launched in region
Running until September 30, the Home Office Safer Streets Summer initiative is part of the Government's mission to restore and strengthen local policing in communities. It also aims to reduce or prevent anti-social behaviour, which forms part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee announced by the Government last month. This initiative will see greater visibility of North Wales Police officers and staff as they target crime across hot spot areas. North Wales Police' s local policing and response officers, as well as Volunteer Special Constables, together with officers from specialist teams, will be focusing on increasing engagement, disrupting criminals and listening to any concerns. During the first week of the initiative, which launched on June 30, officers across the region have been busy making arrests, visiting schools, increased foot patrols, set up engagement events such as Cuppa with a Copper and assisted local authority partners. Officers have been focussing on crimes such as retail theft and have already made significant arrests. Last week, a prolific shoplifter was jailed for a series of shoplifting offences across Wrexham. Layton Vallance, 26, of no fixed address, appeared before Wrexham Magistrates Court after admitting five charges of theft from a shop. He was sentenced to serve a total 36 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £255 in costs. To try and deter anti-social behaviour, last week officers in Wrexham met with partners to help facilitate and promote youth clubs across the city and officers in Flintshire South have linked in with local schools to design posters which will be displayed across Mold over the summer period. TOP STORIES TODAY Man smashed city centre salon window causing injuries to hairdresser and customer Nurse risks 'throwing away career' after failing to provide sample for police North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Evans said: 'Our teams work hard all year round to help keep our communities safe, so as the summer brings more people out and about, along with an influx of visitors to North Wales, we will be stepping up high-visibility patrols – listening and responding in areas such as town centres and popular tourist hot-spot areas. 'Over the next three months there will be several activities taking place across the region that fall under Safer Summer Streets, including additional operations targeting retail crime, anti-social behaviour and knife crime. 'These are all matters that have a real impact on our businesses and communities and blight the lives of those living there. 'We will continue to target crimes which matter to people and will continue to listen to concerns and those who commit these offences can expect to face the consequences of their actions.' To report crime in your neighbourhood, contact North Wales Police via the LiveChat function on their website, or by calling 101. In an emergency always dial 999. You can also report anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.
