Police leaders say they will struggle to fulfil Labour’s promise to recruit 13,000 officers

Projected 1.2bn police funding shortfall expected to grow after spending review outlined fall in Home Office spending power

Police forces will struggle to fulfil Keir Starmer's promise to recruit an additional 13,000 officers and the public will pay the price", police leaders have warned, after the chancellor outlined a decline in Home Office spending power on Wednesday.

The National Police Chiefs' Council said it would be incredibly difficult to deliver the prime minister's election pledge within the lifetime of this parliament, with a projected 1.2bn shortfall in police funding expected to grow.