Avon and Somerset Police have increased their ranks by recruiting over 30 new officers in the past year but simultaneously lost nearly 60 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), raising questions about the government’s pledge to recruit 3,000 additional neighbourhood officers nationwide.
According to new Home Office data, the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers and PCSOs has declined nationally. As of March 31, 2025, England and Wales had 146,454 FTE police officers, excluding British Transport Police—a 0.9% decrease from the previous year, equating to 1,307 fewer officers.
PCSOs have also decreased by 257 roles (3%), from 7,570 in 2024 to 7,313 FTE roles this year. Despite these national trends, Avon and Somerset Police have boosted their numbers by 32 officers, with personnel rising from 3,295 in 2024 to 3,327 in March 2025. However, this gain is offset by a loss of 57 PCSOs, dropping from 282 to 225.
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This shift occurs amid renewed focus on community policing, highlighted by a “summer crime blitz” initiated in April targeting shoplifting, pickpocketing, phone theft, and assaults on shop workers. The government’s “Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee” aims to add 13,000 more officers into neighbourhood roles by 2029—a growth of over 50%. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has pledged 3,000 new neighbourhood officers—including 2,500 police officers and nearly 400 PCSOs—by the start of next year.
This initiative seeks to assign every community its own dedicated, contactable officers and ensure visible patrols in town centres and other hotspots during busy times. Supported by £100 million in funding announced earlier this year, the goal is to put prevention at the forefront of policing.
Currently, for every 10,000 residents in Avon and Somerset, there are roughly 20 police and community support officers combined. The Metropolitan Police holds the highest officer-to-population ratio at 39 per 10,000, while Lincolnshire has the lowest at 16 per 10,000.
Consequently, each officer and PCSO in Avon and Somerset is responsible for an average of 497 people. This ratio highlights the ongoing challenge of meeting increasing policing demands amid shifting workforce numbers.
Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of enhanced community policing: “Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure on the streets they call home. Policing has been reactive for too long, but with the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, we will restore prevention and ensure police are visible and trusted in every community.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper reinforced this commitment by stating the government’s determination to get police officers back on patrol in local neighbourhoods and town centres, emphasizing the role of visible policing in community safety.