Boris Johnson’s plan to recruit an extra 20,000 police officers will begin within weeks and an urgent review will take place of plans to make it easier for forces to use stop-and-search powers.
The recruitment drive – one of Mr Johnson’s Tory leadership campaign promises – will start in September and the Prime Minister wants it completed over the next three years.
Mr Johnson said: “As I said on the steps of Downing Street this week, my job as Prime Minister is to make our streets safer.
“People want to see more officers in their neighbourhoods, protecting the public and cutting crime.
“I promised 20,000 extra officers and that recruitment will now start in earnest.”
Mr Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel have also set out plans for a new national policing board.
The panel will be chaired by the Home Secretary and bring together key police leaders, holding them to account for meeting the 20,000 officers target and working on a national response to other issues.
