Labour has pledged to increase police presence in communities to combat crime. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper committed to hiring an additional 13,000 police officers and community support officers across England and Wales. The plan involves recruiting 3,000 new officers and 4,000 PCSOs, complementing existing numbers through current police officers and special constables. Labour estimates the cost at £360 million, to be funded through more efficient procurement practices among the 43 police forces.

Cooper, who plans a visit to South Yorkshire, criticized current crime rates and promised a “hands-on” approach to the Home Office. She cited Labour’s analysis of Office for National Statistics data, noting increases in mobile phone thefts, pickpocketing, and knife crime since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister. Cooper emphasized that half the public rarely sees officers on patrol and claimed total arrests have halved since 2010.

Conservative policing minister Chris Philp countered, highlighting the Conservative government’s recruitment of 20,000 more officers since 2019 and questioned the feasibility of Labour’s plan.

Labour also targeted tech companies on phone theft, urging firms like Apple, Google, and Samsung to implement features preventing stolen phones from being re-registered. If tech companies fail to act, Labour threatens to force compliance through legislation. Cooper described phone theft as a growing issue linked to broader organized crime and criticized the Conservative government for insufficient action. She stated that Labour would ensure robust measures to protect the public and reduce crime.