Rossendale and Darwen MP Sir Jake Berry has hailed the news that 612 extra police officers have been recruited in Lancashire since September 2019.

This brings the total number of officers policing the county up to 3,587.

The figure exceeded the force's four-year target to recruit 509 additional officers set by the government.

The drive was part of the ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson's 2019 pledge to recruit 20,000 police officers nationally, after officer numbers over the previous nine years of Conservative Government had fallen by more than 20,000.

Labour has accused the Government of taking the country for "fools", while the Police Federation said the news is misleading.

In Lancashire, between 2010 and 2017, 799 officers were lost, more than 21 per cent of the constabulary's total workforce.

With the new recruits, the number of police officers in Lancashire now is around 40 people higher than 13 years ago.

The praise of Tory backbencher Jake Berry for the recruitment success has been echoed by Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Sir Jake said: “From working with our local police force, I know just how valuable 612 more police officers will be in helping crack down on crime in our local community.

“These recruits mean there are now 3,587 police officers in Lancashire, helping to pursue criminals and tackle anti-social behaviour, keeping neighbourhoods safe for the law-abiding majority."

Ms Braverman told the Lancashire Telegraph: "In 2019 we promised 20,000 extra police officers.

"Now, we’ve recruited every single one, meaning we now have around 150,000 police officers - the most we’ve ever had.

"And in Lancashire, this means more police officers on the ground, with local officer numbers boosted by 612.

"These new recruits will keep the streets of the county safe by clamping down on violence, burglaries, rape and sexual offences as well as anti-social behaviour in places such as Barnoldswick, where I know the police and crime commissioner Andrew Snowden visited recently to meet with local representatives and members of the public, to address concerns raised by residents."

Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper accused the Conservatives of “taking the country for fools.”

The Police Federation, which represents more than 130,000 rank-and-file officers, said that 23,000 police staff jobs had also been cut during austerity and the impression of a healthily staffed service was misleading.

Both Ms Cooper and the Federation said that per head of population there are fewer police officers now than there were in 2010.