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Leicestershire Police serves a growing and diverse population across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its force area of 979 square miles includes urban and rural communities, three universities and an international airport. The force serves a population of over 1.1 million. Over half of the population of the city of Leicester is from non-White British backgrounds.

Leicestershire Police operates a budget of £243.1m with an establishment of 2242 Police officers. The force dealt with 267,531 incidents and recorded 101,450 crimes in 2023/2024. Demand for police services locally is growing and the challenges are more complex.

In 2022 the force managed significant violent disorder among some communities in east Leicester, influenced in part by international tensions. A comprehensive consultation and review resulted in steps to strengthen service, standards and local leadership. Leicestershire Police manages a high volume of protest activity and complex community dynamics.

The force works closely with partners and communities to prevent crime and identify vulnerability. The force has a young-in-service workforce, supported by a strong training academy. Leicestershire is a proactive member of a number of local and regional collaborations. It continues to invest in information technology to tackle changing crime types and find efficiencies.

The national funding formula for policing does not meet Leicestershire’s changed and changing needs, putting significant strain on budgets year-on-year. The force has put in place a three-year sustainability plan to mitigate funding gaps and is on track. In the last two years Leicestershire Police reduced police staff numbers by 150 while sustaining officer headcount.

The force introduced Operation Forefront in 2023 to further strengthen leadership, service, standards and efficiency. It also implemented successfully a revised grading structure for all staff roles. Working with communities, the force established a public pledge setting out what to expect from Leicestershire Police as an emergency service.

Leicestershire Police serves a growing and diverse population across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its force area of 979 square miles includes urban and rural communities, three universities and an international airport. The force serves a population of over 1.1 million.

Demographics vary significantly in the city and two counties. Some communities are affluent, others have high levels of deprivation. Over half of the population of Leicester is from non-White British backgrounds with 130 languages and dialects spoken.

Leicestershire Police operates a budget of £223.2m (2022/2023). Its medium-term financial plan is forecast to balance. The force is on track with its recruitment target of an establishment of 2,242 police officers (a proportion of 96.8% are in frontline roles).

The force protects its communities through “Our Duty”, a commitment to working as one team to prevent crime, protect vulnerable people, deal with those who cause most harm, bring people to justice and innovate and continuously improve.

Leicestershire Police dealt with 246,130 incidents and recorded 86,160 crimes in 2020/2021.

A new Target Operating Model (TOM) was implemented in March 2020 to enhance the delivery of policing services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The force works extensively and collaboratively with local authorities and other partners to reduce demand through problem solving, crime prevention and community engagement.

Investment in investigative capabilities and a sustained commitment to safeguarding and specialist units maximises opportunities to address high harm and support vulnerable people. The force contributes significantly to regional policing collaborations.

Leicestershire Police set up the Team Leicestershire Academy in 2020 to strengthen workforce development. It works with local universities and communities to innovate and continuously improve, and participates in national and regional pilot projects regularly to develop and test new ideas.