# Have 20,000 extra police by spring 2023

> “By this Spring, we will have an extra 20,000 police officers, patrolling the streets, answering the call for help, and catching criminals.”
>
> — Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister, Conservative Party; Speech setting out his five priorities, 4 January 2023

- **Status:** Delivered
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Police, courts, prisons](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/police-courts-and-prisons)
- **Speaker:** [Rishi Sunak](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/rishi-sunak), Prime Minister
- **Party:** [Conservative Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/conservatives)
- **Made on:** 4 January 2023
- **Where:** Speech setting out his five priorities
- **Deadline:** 31 May 2023
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** Police forces in England and Wales and the people they serve
- **When:** By spring 2023
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-on-making-2023-the-first-year-of-a-new-and-better-future-4-january-2023 (checked word for word at its source on 20 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 20 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-police-20000-2023

## Where it stands

The Home Office's final figures show 20,947 additional officers recruited through the Police Uplift Programme by 31 March 2023, against a target of 20,000, taking the number of officers in England and Wales to 149,566. 42 of the 43 forces met their own allocation; the Metropolitan Police did not. The target was a manifesto commitment of the then government, which the Prime Minister repeated here; "this Spring" is read as 31 May 2023.

## Timeline

- 4 January 2023, Promised: The Prime Minister says there will be an extra 20,000 police officers by the spring
- 31 May 2023, Deadline: 20,000 extra officers due "by this Spring" (editorial date, end of May 2023)
- 26 July 2023, Delivered: Home Office final figures: 20,947 additional officers recruited by 31 March 2023 against the 20,000 target ([evidence](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-officer-uplift-final-position-as-at-march-2023/police-officer-uplift-final-position-as-at-march-2023))

## About the cost

No figure in the speech.

## Sources

- [Prime Minister's Office: PM speech on building a better future, 4 January 2023](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-on-making-2023-the-first-year-of-a-new-and-better-future-4-january-2023)
- [Home Office: Police officer uplift, final position as at March 2023 (26 Jul 2023)](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-officer-uplift-final-position-as-at-march-2023/police-officer-uplift-final-position-as-at-march-2023)

## Checks

- Checked automatically by AI Journalist, not yet verified by an editor.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 20 October 2026.

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