More than 100 additional officers have been recruited at Avon and Somerset Constabulary since the Government launched its police recruitment drive in the UK a year ago, new figures reveal.

One hundred and thirty additional police officers have been recruited at the constabulary, which brings the total number of police across the force area to 2,965.

Avon and Somerset has seen the second biggest increase in numbers, behind Devon and Cornwall with 141.

The statistics confirm the Government remains on track to meet its manifesto commitment of recruiting 20,000 extra officers by 2023, which is ahead of schedule to have the first 6,000 in place by March 2021.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “As we’ve seen from the frontline response to coronavirus, the work of each and every police officer helps to save lives and I would like to extend my gratitude to them, and to the new recruits, for joining the police and being a part of this heroic national effort.”