Lincolnshire Police have fewer police officers on the beat
Lincolnshire police received a boost in funding to recruit more police officers, but despite this, there are now fewer police officers on the streets in Lincolnshire including Skegness, Boston, Stamford, Lincoln, and Grantham.
With crime increasing in Lincolnshire more police officers are needed. However, Lincolnshire Police are experiencing a slight decrease in the number of police officers on the beat despite extra recruitment funding to boost police numbers.
Data from the Home Office reveals that 82 officers left the Lincolnshire Police Force in the past year, while 90 new officers were recruited to replace them. Although this decline raises concerns about recruitment and retention rates, local policing leaders remain confident in their ability to attract new staff.
Between April 2022 and March 2023, Lincolnshire Police welcomed 90 new police constables, resulting in a joiner rate of 7.5%. During the same period, 82 officers left the force, leading to a leavers rate of 6.8%. The departing officers encompassed various ranks, from chief officers to constables, with the majority leaving voluntarily.
Lincolnshire police now have 1,146 police officers compared to 1,151 police officers in 2022. With reports of higher crime rates in the Lincolnshire area, residents and business owners are concerned.
We reported that Ingoldmells, Skegness has seen a huge increase in crime, and this latest news of fewer police officers on the beat is not going to bring them any confidence that crime will be reduced.
Read:Residents In Ingoldmells Worried About Crime
In 2023, there were 1,146 officers in total, including 1,058 full-time equivalent (FTE) frontline staff, 54 frontline support, and 34 business support staff.
In 2022, there were 1,151 officers, consisting of 1,076 frontline staff, 48 frontline support, and 27 business support staff.
Looking further back, in 2021, there were 1,102 officers, with 1,057 frontline staff, 30 frontline support, and 15 business support staff.
The Lincolnshire Police Force had its highest number of officers in 2010, with figures reaching 1,161 officers, including 1,092 frontline staff, 51 frontline support, and 18 business support staff.
Conversely, 2020 saw the lowest number of police officers, with 1,015 officers, comprising 940 frontline staff, 54 frontline support, and 21 business support staff.
In April, Lincolnshire Police celebrated after saying they had hired 166 new officers since 2021, as part of the government’s initiative to recruit an additional 20,000 officers nationwide.
Charley Rimmer, the force’s director of people services, expressed satisfaction with meeting the recruitment target and emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards during the vetting process to ensure the selection of qualified individuals.
Marc Jones, the police and crime commissioner for Lincolnshire, acknowledged the positive impact of the government’s efforts to increase police numbers in the region. He commended the additional funding provided by the government, as well as the support from Lincolnshire taxpayers, for strengthening frontline policing.
The collaboration between Jones and Chief Constable Chris Haward has led to critical improvements in policing and enhanced community safety. However, Jones also recognized that challenges remain, particularly about the funding structure for Lincolnshire. He is actively working with colleagues in Whitehall to address this fundamental issue.