More than 1,800 police officers recruited under Boris Johnson’s 20,000 pledge have already quit

Record number of officers resigning over pay, conditions and ‘mismatch’ between expectation and reality of job

Boris Johnson announced the uplift in 2019 (Getty)

More than 1,800 police officers hired as part of Boris Johnson’s pledge to recruit 20,000 extra constables by 2023 have already quit, figures show.

The real number is believed to be much higher, amid warnings over recruits leaving policing over pay, conditions and a “mismatch” between their expectations and the reality of the job.

In his first speech as prime minister in July 2019, Mr Johnson vowed he would put “another 20,000 police on the streets” by the end of March.