South East breakdown of latest number of police officers in local forces
Surrey and Sussex are in the top four of the largest percentage increase of recruits
Last updated 28th Jan 2026
The Home Office have published a full list of police officers in England and Wales.
More specifically, it highlights a breakdown by force of the latest number of police officers in England and Wales, along with the year on year change.
The figures have been published by the Home Office and show the full-time equivalent (FTE) number of officers in each force as of September 30, 2025.
Of the 43 territorial forces, more than half (24) have seen a net rise year on year, with Cheshire recording the largest percentage increase (up 2.3%), followed by Gloucestershire (up 2.1%), Surrey (up 2.1%) and Sussex (up 1.5%).
Specified statistics give the name of the force followed by the number of FTE officers as of September 30 2025, then the percentage change on the number of FTE officers on September 30 2024
Other South East forces include:
- Bedfordshire: 1,454; down 0.1% from 1,455
- Cambridgeshire: 1,707; down 1.0% from 1,725
- Essex: 3,759; up 0.01% from 3,758
- Hampshire & Isle of Wight: 3,364; up 0.4% from 3,349
- Hertfordshire: 2,380; up 0.1% from 2,379
- Norfolk: 1,902; up 0.1% from 1,899
- Northamptonshire: 1,463; down 0.7% from 1,473
- Suffolk: 1,415; up 1.0% from 1,400
- Surrey: 2,344; up 2.1% from 2,295
- Sussex: 3,230; up 1.5% from 3,182
- Thames Valley: 4,993; down 0.6% from 5,023