The Conservative Government is failing to deliver the promised 297 more police officers for Leicestershire.

Analysis of Home Office statistics by the Liberal Democrats has shown that a total of 259 extra officers have been recruited by Leicestershire Police under the Government's uplift programme that started in September 2019.

It also reveals that Police actually went backwards in the three month between March and June losing a net 10 officers.

To meet the Conservatives' own target of 297 extra officers by March 2023, that rate would have to increase to 4 per month over the final nine months of the programme.

Leicestershire's Liberal Democrats have slammed the government for failing to keep their promise to communities, adding that there needs to be a return to full and proper community policing.

Responding to the figures Cllr Michael Mullaney Liberal Democrat Leader of the opposition on Leicestershire County council said:

"People in Leicestershire are being let down and taken for granted by this Conservative Government. With so many local crimes going unsolved, we desperately need more police on our streets and in our communities.

"Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to proper community policing, where officers are visible, trusted and known personally to local people."

"The Conservatives' pledge to boost police officer numbers looks set to become yet another of their broken promises. They are letting down victims of crime and our communities right across our area."