CUMBRIA is set to receive more than 50 new police officers.

Home Secretary Priti Panel has announced every police force in England and Wales has been set a recruitment target as part of a Government drive to take on 20,000 new officers.

The scheme will see £750 million injected into forces across England and Wales by the end of 2020-21.

It's hoped 6,000 new jobs will be created in the first wave of the roll-out, including 51 in the county.

Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner said Peter McCall said: “The recruitment target announcement is welcome news for Cumbria Police.

“Added to the 45 additional officers we’ve managed to recruit over the last 18 months, this makes a real difference.

“Our focus here is to fight crime and anti-social behaviour, support victims and bring offenders to justice through effective policing."

He added: "Having more officers to do this will send out a clear message to any criminals that they need to think twice before committing offences, as we will catch you.”

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: “Peter McCall is doing a fantastic job as Cumbria’s Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner and I’m sure he will be as delighted as I am with the news that 51 more police officers will be recruited across the county next year.

“These new officers will play a vital role in helping to keep our streets safe, sending out a message to criminals that crime and antisocial behaviour in any form will not be tolerated.

“As the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said at the recent party conference in Manchester, this is just the start of action being taken to crack down on crime by equipping police officers with the powers and resources they need to do the job.”

The announcement comes just weeks after councillors in Dalton called for a stronger police presence in the town.

Dalton Town Councillor, Wendy Maddox, said: “To get more police officers in Dalton would be very good news for the town.

“People are very frustrated by the lack of police presence.

“The community would be a lot happier if we were allocated some more officers.”