THE FOREST of Dean is set to get some of the 46 extra police officers in Gloucestershire which have been announced as part of the Government’s pledge to recruit 20,000 new officers nationwide.

In the first year of the scheme, the Home Office will provide £750 million to support the 43 forces in the UK to recruit up to six thousand new officers.

And the numbers for Gloucestershire have been welcomed by the county’s Constabulary chiefs and politicans alike.

Gloucestershire Constabulary Chief Constable Rod Hansen said: "I welcome the news confirming how many police officers we will be receiving as part of the HM Government’s pledge.

"This funding will enable us to continue to strengthen our ranks and provide the service that the public expects and deserves from us.

"This combined with our ongoing recruitment campaign will allow the Constabulary to address some of the very pressing demands we face."

Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl said: "I am pleased with the allocation of police officers that we will be receiving and hopefully this will be continued over the coming years. I hope we will soon hear the final details, including funding arrangements.

"The extra resources will allow us to keep the public safe from harm and help us to continue to meet the aims of my Police and Crime Plan."

Meanwhile, Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper was delighted with the news, saying: “I am really pleased to see this first allocation of extra police officers for

Gloucestershire Constabulary with more to come over the next three years.

“It is great to see that one of the Prime Minister’s first promises upon taking office is already being implemented, so I thank Boris Johnson and Priti Patel (Home Secretary) for backing our police and giving them the extra resources they need.”