DOZENS of new police officers will be in place across Dorset by March as part of the Government’s mass recruitment scheme.

The Government aims to bolstering police forces with extra 20,000 officers and resources over the next three years in a bid to ‘cut crime and keep communities safe’.

406 additional officers in the South West are already helping to keep people safe by supporting the police response to the pandemic, who have stepped up their enforcement against those flouting rules to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

In an update released by the Home Office, 50 new police officers are scheduled to be recruited across Dorset by March. 19 new officers have already been recruited.

Dorset Echo understands the newly recruited police officers would be based across its force area depending on operational needs.

Dorset Assistant Chief Constable Mark Callaghan said: “Despite the challenges of Covid-19, Dorset Police has continued to work to recruit its share of the 20,000 extra officers promised nationally by the Government and funded through the Uplift programme.

“The Force remains on track to recruit 50 new officers by the end of year one of a three-year recruitment cycle. These much-needed extra officers are great news for the communities that we serve in Dorset during this difficult time and will bring a welcome relief to our stretched workforce.”

A Home Office spokeswoman said the recruitment drive is ‘at the centre’ of the Government’s promise to back the police with more resources and support to cut crime.

An additional £20 million from the Safer Streets fund has been pledged to help crack down on ‘neighbourhood crimes’ like burglary, robbery, theft and vehicle crime.

Open to both Police and Crime Commissioners and Local Authorities and go towards local-crime cutting interventions in residential areas, with measures such as improved home security, increased street lighting and the installation of CCTV to crime hotspots.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “I am delighted we have exceeded our own target to recruit 6,000 additional police officers by March 2021.

“Keeping our streets is my absolute priority and many of these new officers in the South West are already on our streets helping to fight the coronavirus pandemic, and for that they get my huge thanks.

“These new officers, on top of further funding to tackle crimes such as burglary, robbery and vehicle crime will ensure the police have the powers, tools and resources they need to cut crime and make you feel safer in your community.”