THAMES valley police is aiming to recruit an additional 183 officers as part of new Government plans.

The Home Office has confirmed its officer recruitment targets for every police force in England and Wales for the first year in a drive to recruit 20,000 over the next three years.

An additional 6,000 officers onto our streets in England and Wales by the end of 2020-21.

Priti Patel, home secretary, said: "The public are clear they want to see more police officers on their streets, whether they live in the city or the countryside.

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"This is the people’s priority and it is exactly what the Government is delivering.

Every single police force in England and Wales will be able to recruit additional officers this year to help keep all of our communities safer."

All officers recruited as part of the 20,000 uplift will be additional to those hired to fill existing job roles.

Government funding for recruitment in 2020-21 will cover all associated costs, including training and kit.

A total of £1 billion is being put to fund the extra police officers by 2019-20, which includes money from council tax and for serious violence.

John Apter, national chair of the police federation of England and Wales said: "Investment in policing is long overdue and for the first time we now have the actual number of officers each local force will increase by in the next year.

"These figures have been based on the current funding formula models and while this method is not perfect, I accept it is the only solution available to deliver the numbers quickly in year one."

The announcement today (October 9) follows the establishment of a £25 million Safer Streets Fund.

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Police and Crime Commissioners can bid for the funding to prevent burglary and theft in crime hotspots through initiatives which could include ways to improve home security.

The Home Office has also announced £10 million of funding to increase the number of officers carrying Taser to keep themselves and the public safe and confirmed plans for a police covenant will focus on the physical protection of officers, their health and wellbeing and support for their families.