Claim

The prime minister has regularly claimed that one of his government’s plans is to recruit 20,000 additional police officers. In this instance, he said that 20,000 more police “are operating” on our streets, suggesting that his government had already achieved this goal.

Facts

Recruitment will take place over three years and do no more than replace the drop in officer numbers seen since the Conservatives came to power in 2010.

Verdict

Johnson lied. It is a realistic possibility that the Conservatives will recruit an additional 20,000 police officers, but it will take several years and will only cover cuts they have already made.