Traffic officer numbers fall to lowest level in at least a decade
The number of dedicated roads policing officers in England and Wales has fallen for the second consecutive year, according to the latest Home Office workforce statistics.
The figures show there were 3,765 dedicated roads policing officers as of March 31, 2026, down from 3,889 the previous year and 5,005 a decade ago – a fall of almost 25 per cent.
The latest decline comes as ministers prepare a new road safety strategy that is expected to consider changes to drink-drive laws, including a possible reduction in the legal alcohol limit in England and Wales.
The figures are also published against a backdrop of wider concerns about the future of specialist roads policing, following reports that the Metropolitan Police is considering disbanding its dedicated Roads and Transport Policing Command as part of cost-saving measures.
Hunter Abbott, managing director of breathalyser manufacturer AlcoSense Laboratories, said any tightening of drink-drive laws would need to be matched by effective enforcement.
“Changing the law is one thing. Enforcing it is another,” he said. “If ministers decide to lower the drink-drive limit, motorists need to believe there is a realistic chance of being stopped and tested.”
He added that roads policing officers play a wider role in tackling uninsured drivers, organised crime and other offences, warning that visible enforcement acts as a deterrent.