Home Secretary Suella Braverman was skewered over Tory police cuts today as she prepared to welcome new officer numbers.
The Cabinet Minister endured a car crash interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain as hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls tore into the Conservatives’ record.
Official statistics are expected to show the Government has met its 2019 election manifesto pledge to recruit 20,000 police officers.
But critics pointed out that would only replace the numbers cashed during years of Tory and Lib Dem austerity from 2010.
In a bruising early-morning encounter, Susannah told her: “You came to government and there were around 142,000 police officers in England and Wales and in 2022 there were around 142,000 in police officers in England and Wales.
“In the meantime, under your Government, the numbers went down to 121,929 in 2017, so when I say you’re just filling the gap, you’re simply just filling the gap.”
She added: “Under your Government, 20,000 police officers were cut from our police forces.”
Mrs Braverman claimed: “If we do achieve this target we will have a record number of police officers ever in the history of policing in England and Wales.”
She added: “We’re very confident we’re not filling any gaps.”
In a fiery clash, Susanna challenged her to admit the cuts, telling her: “You’re not answering the question.”
Co-host Ed, who was Shadow Chancellor from 2010-15, added: “The answer’s yes, Home Secretary.”
Eventually, Mrs Braverman blamed the state of the public finances the Tories inherited in 2010 for the cuts, admitting: “We came into power in 2010 inheriting a financial crisis and no money was left by the Labour Government, we had to make very difficult choices.”
When the figures confirmed the manifesto promise had been met, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: "In 2019 we promised to recruit 20,000 additional police officers in England and Wales to make our streets safer and protect communities.
"Today, I’m pleased to say we have delivered that promise."
Provisional Home Office statistics showed 20,951 extra recruits joined forces in the past three years.
Mrs Braverman said: “We have delivered on the promise we made to the British people which means more police on the beat preventing violence, solving burglaries and cracking down on antisocial behaviour.”
But Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Alaitair Carmichael said: “Crime victims are waiting hours for police to turn up while the vast majority of burglaries go unsolved.
“The Conservatives have taken thousands of community support officers off the streets and bogged down local forces in unnecessary tasks.
“They can’t even get the basics right on crime.
“The Home Secretary can’t hide behind today’s statistics.
“She must finally commit to a return to community policing without delay - otherwise, it’s just smoke and mirrors.”
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper accused the Conservatives of "taking the country for fools" and having "no grip on law and order".
She said: "They cut 20,000 police officers from our streets.
"Now they expect the public to be grateful for a police replacement programme that still leaves 6,000 fewer police out on the beat and 9,000 fewer officers in real terms compared to the last Labour Government as the population has grown."
Out of 43 forces, the Metropolitan Police - the biggest - was the only one to miss its recruitment target, falling short by about 1,000.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told the Commons Home Affairs Committee: “I wish we'd hit it, but we haven't."
Asked why, he blamed a "range of factors", adding: "Obviously we are striving to maintain the quality, that's really important.
“The reputation of the organisation at the moment doesn't help recruiting, but also the employment market and the pay situation is really challenging."
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