A west Cumbrian MP has welcomed the news that 52 new officers have joined the county' police force.

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison welcomed this week's announcement that 52 new police officers have been recruited throughout Cumbria since the beginning of the Government's major police recruitment drive.

The total number of Cumbria Police officers now stands at 1,251.

Welcoming the news, Mrs Harrison said: "During this most impossibly difficult period, I would like to add my personal gratitude to everyone working on the frontline and those in supporting roles.

"Never before in peacetime history has the role of policing been so important for everyone’s health and safety."

Mrs Harrison added that the Government has boosted police funding by £1.1bn this year, ""ensuring our officers have everything need to keep us safe", as well as increasing police pay by 2.5 per cent, "ensuring policing remains an attractive career for everyone".

Other measures Mrs Harrison highlights as positive steps forward for the police in the UK are the Government's "enshrining [of] a new police covenant into law, enhancing support and protection for our frontline police officers, toughening up sentences for assaulting emergency workers, recognising the debt of gratitude the public feels towards them, [and] equipping over 8,000 more officers with Taser devices, ensuring they have the resources they need to keep themselves safe."