Northamptonshire will have double the number of local bobbies on the beat by 2022

Numbers of local bobbies on the beat across Northamptonshire will be doubled by the end of 2022.

New recruits will swell teams of dedicated neighbourhood policing constables across rural and urban parts of the county from 50 to 100 over the next 18 months — with plans for another 60 by 2023.

Northamptonshire Police already has 1,367 officers compared to 1,170 four years ago and are on target to recruit 130 more in the next two years funded by council tax revenue and extra Government cash.

That allows Chief Constable Nick Adderley to increase in neighbourhood policing without diverting resources from emergency response or other specialist crime areas.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold said: “As the voice of the public in policing and crime, I know how powerful and effective visible, local policing can be.

"Across the county, people tell me that they want to see this focus on the crime that really matters to them in their community. That’s why I am so proud to be able to be part of this new focus on local, neighbourhood policing to fight crime.

“This has been made possible thanks to the investment that local people have made through their council tax in support of Northamptonshire Police. I am confident that people across the county will see an increased engagement with their local policing teams and be able to identify the officers who are able to deal with the issues that matter to them in their area.

"This local focus will strengthen the Force’s work with partners to tackle specific issues on a local level and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.”

In addition to increasing the number of neighbourhood officers, the Force is also investing more than £100,000 in two new mobile police stations.

These bespoke vehicles, due to be launched in April, will enable local teams to provide greater support and a more visible and accessible policing service to the county’s more remote and rural communities.

Mr Adderley added: “In doubling the number of our neighbourhood beat officers over the next 18 months, with more officers coming later in 2023, the vision of a better connected, accessible, visible and contactable police service starts to become a reality.

“This is the future of Northamptonshire Police; a force that understands, listens, anticipates, problem solves and reacts to issues at the earliest opportunity, a force which bears down heavily on those who commit crime and anti-social behaviour yet one which works with communities and individuals to divert them away from such activity where possible.

“I believe that by putting bobbies back on the beat we will provide the right connection and service, a service that the public deserves and quite rightly expects.”