Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase police capacity in Staffordshire to tackle serious violent crimes.

We are increasing the number of police officers in England and Wales by 20,000 by the end of March 2023 and I am pleased to say excellent progress is being made in delivering against this target.

Due to their hard work and commitment, police forces in England and Wales have already recruited 11,053 additional officers, 55% of the 20,000-officer target.

As at 30 September 2021, Staffordshire police had recruited 149 additional officers against a combined allocation of 179 additional officers for years one and two of the uplift programme. These officers are tackling crime and keeping the communities of Staffordshire, safe. The deployment of officers is a decision for operationally independent Chief Constables.

We are committed to reducing serious violence and putting an end to the tragedies afflicting our communities. It is important that we work across government, statutory, private, and voluntary sectors to turn the tide of violence and deliver change. Tackling serious violence forms a key part of the Government’s Beating Crime Plan, which sets out our strategic vision to cut crime and protect victims. The Government is making £130.5m available this year to tackle serious violence, including murder and knife crime.

We acknowledge there is more to do which is why we are bringing forward the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill so the law-abiding majority can be confident they are safe.