What are the real figures on police officer recruitment?

The net increase in officers is much lower than Suella Braverman would like you to believe, as Archie Mitchell explains

Suella Braverman ran into trouble repeating the claim that the Conservatives have recruited 20,000 more police officers (PA)

Much is made of the government’s claim to have delivered on a manifesto pledge to recruit an additional 20,000 police officers in England and Wales.

Ministers touring broadcast studios often cite the achievement as evidence of the Conservatives’ tough stance on crime.

But Suella Braverman ran into trouble repeating the claim as she touted her announcement that police would be ordered to investigate every theft and follow every “reasonable” lead in solving crime.