Record officer numbers for Devon and Cornwall Police

Devon and Cornwall Police now has a record number of officers after the biggest recruitment drive in its history.

The force hired 1,446 new police officers between 2019 and 2023, boosting the total to 3,716.

There are still fewer officers per capita than in 2012, however, due to a rise in population in the two counties.

Deputy Chief Constable Jim Colwell said: "While a number of these new officers will still be going through their training, there are a substantial number who are already out there in our communities making a real difference.

"We have been able to boost resources in a range of key teams and departments to help us keep people safe and bring dangerous offenders to justice.

"We have bolstered our frontline patrol teams across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, as well as increase resilience in our neighbourhood policing and roads policing teams."

Devon and Cornwall Police plans to recruit 302 more officers by March 2024. Click here to find out more.