BOLTON West and Atherton MP Chris Green has welcomed the announcement that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) will recruit 347 officers.

The Home Office said today, Wednesday, that the officers will be added to the force's ranks within a year of the Government announcing the UK's police numbers will be increased by 20,000.

Mr Green has been campaigning for an increased presence on our streets and held a series of public meetings dedicated to discussing residents' crime concerns.

He said: “On behalf of my constituents, I have been telling successive Prime Ministers that we need to be far tougher on crime.

“Boris Johnson and Priti Patel have got the message and Greater Manchester Police will recruit 347 officers next year.

"Together, we are going to make our streets safer.”

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

“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.”