Police service strength
This briefing looks at the strength and diversity of police forces in the UK.
Data from the Home Office, Scottish Government, and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) shows us how large the police workforce is. It also indicates how diverse forces are, including breakdowns by sex and ethnicity.
This briefing breaks down data by police force area where possible and includes international comparisons where available.
United KingdomThe number of police officers in the United Kingdom increased each year between 2003, when there were just under 155,400 officers, and 2010, when there were 171,600.
Following this peak, the number of police officers fell each year up until 2018. Numbers have since risen and as of 31 March 2025, there were 169,348 police officers operating in the United Kingdom. This was an increase of 10% from the number of police officers operating in 2003, but a 0.7% fall from 2010.
These figures are given on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis rather than headcounts and exclude Police Community Support Officers and Special Constables.