Grantham MP Gareth Davies has welcomed the announcement that 132 police officers have been recruited in Lincolnshire in the first year of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's campaign to recruit 20,000 by March 2023, as part of the 8,771 additional officers that have been recruited across England and Wales.

This means the current Conservative Government's target of recruiting 6,000 by March 2021 in the first year of the programme has been dramatically exceeded, with the halfway milestone likely to be reached within the coming weeks.

The addition of these new officers brings the total number of police across Lincolnshire up to 1152 - a rise of over 10% - meaning there are now more frontline officers on our streets to keep the public safe.

The move contrasts to during the David Cameron-led Coalition government when police numbers were cut. In 2010, the county had 1206 officers, a number which was reduced to 1100 by 2013, creating what the force said itself was a "very thin 'blue line'".

The pledge to recruit an additional 20,000 police officers was one of Boris Johnson's key pledges during the Conservative Party leadership contest nearly two years ago.

The new figures have also confirmed that every single force across England and Wales has met or exceed their recruitment targets. 139,000 people have applied to join the police since the start of the recruitment programme.

Analysis of diversity data shows that there are now 10,218 officers from a Black Asian and Minority Ethnic background – the highest number on record.

In addition to recruiting 20,000 additional police officers, the Boris Johnson-led Conservative Government says it is supporting the police with the powers they need to crack down on crime.

This includes the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill , which has led to protests across the UK due to its restrictions against protests.

However, it will also give the police additional powers to get knives off the streets, a £636 million funding boost for police forces this year, and a new police covenant – which will enhance support and protection for frontline police officers.

Gareth Davies said: "Getting more police officers onto our streets is one of the people's priorities, and so I am delighted that, this Conservative Government has already delivered an extra 132 officers across Lincolnshire.

"Every one of these officers will make an enormous difference in helping to cut crime and keep people safe – and I know that many more will follow as this People's Government continues to deliver on its promise to recruit 20,000 more over the next three years.

The MP added: "By backing our police with the funding, powers and resources they need, we are keeping the public and our communities safe, so that people everywhere can live their lives free from the fear of crime."