WEST Yorkshire Police will employ 256 police officers in the first wave of new recruitment, the Home Office has announced.

The force has lost 2,000 officers and staff and £140million from its budget since 2010.

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "We also need clarity as to exactly how the officers are going to be funded so that we can plan ahead properly on top of the officers and staff to be recruited through the Police Council tax.

“I am concerned resources have been allocated using a formula that doesn’t take into account crime threat and individual needs of forces as we face significant demands being an area of complex challenge and diversity across the five districts of West Yorkshire."