THE government green light for Greater Manchester Police to recruit 347 new officers in the next year falls short of what is needed, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins and Bury’s MPs have warned.

They were reacting to last week’s announcement by Home Secretary Priti Patel setting out targets and Whitehall cash for the first year of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s drive to deploy 6,000 additional bobbies nationwide by 2021.

Mr Hopkins concerns were backed by Bury North Labur MP James Frith, his independent counterpart Ivan Lewis and Beverley Hughes, Greater Manchester’s deputy mayor for policing.

Mr Hopkins said: “The announcement of the 347 additional officers that our force will be able to recruit is a real opportunity for us as we continue to keep our communities safe.

“Police chiefs across the country have made it clear that any uplift requires significant investment in terms of recruitment, training, equipment and additional police staff to support a larger workforce.

“Whilst we welcome the announcement, we are also still some way off replacing the 2,000 experienced officers we have had to lose over the years within GMP and it will take time to build that experience again with this new influx of officers.”

Mr Lewis said: “I welcome this announcement from the Home Office. I will be fighting to ensure our communities gets its fair share of these new officers.

“Bury police division is fortunate to have such a highly dedicated and professional team. However, it would be remiss not to point out that in recent years they have been the ‘thin blue line’ with perpetual government cuts.

“Front-line officers and victims of crime deserve the better support this overdue investment will bring.”

Mr Frith said: “This government has mugged 2,000 police officers off Greater Manchester Police since Tory austerity began in 2010, with crime and anti-social behaviour rising as a result, leaving the police unable to investigate about 60 per cent of crimes in Bury.

“These new officers are welcome but it isn’t even a quarter of what we’ve lost since 2010. Local officers tell me these are likely to be diverted to response units rather than the desperately needed boost to neighbourhood policing.”

Bury North Conservative general election candidate and North Manor councillor James Daly said: “How can this not be good news. It is preposterous to complain about this.

“These are officers that Greater Manchester and Bury need and the Home Secretary and Prime Minister have recognised this and delivered them.”

Baroness Hughes said: “This government investment in local policing is long overdue but will not of itself make a significant difference.”

She added: “Greater Manchester Police has lost 2,000 officers since 2010. Strengthening police numbers here is welcome, but the number of police able to patrol our streets remains significantly down on nine years ago. To redress this we need much more, and more quickly, than the government is proposing.”