Police campaign sees doubled applications

According to the recent annual police report, recruitment applications soared from ten applications per week between April and September last year, to 24 per week between February and March this year.

Hertfordshire Constabulary admitted it had difficulties recruiting officers and retaining them, especially those from ethnic minorities.

Deputy Chief Constable Peter Maddison said low recruitment, and officers leaving the Constabulary, was partly influenced by the high cost of living in Hertfordshire, and the high employment factor.

Home Office figures revealed Hertfordshire was the only force in England and Wales to see a significant drop of 25 per cent in the number of new officers entering training.

Numbers plummeted from 148 officers joining in 1999 to 2000, to 110 joining at the beginning of this year.

However, the launch of the February recruitment campaign this year has already shown more people are interested in joining the police.

Already, 2,000 application packs have been requested, and hundreds of people have attended two recent recruitment days held at police headquarters.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has increased its number of officers from ethnic minorities to 33.

A police spokesman said: "This is an encouraging result given the current recruitment difficulties across the county. We have increased the target to two per cent this year."

Until recently, an officer working in the Met could earn substantially more than colleagues in the Home Counties, including Hertfordshire. Many officers found it beneficial to work in London while living in this county.

The Government recognised this and recently announced Hertfordshire and other home counties would now receive a new £2,000 allowance, taking a constable's starting pay to more than £19,000.

If you are interested in a career with the Constabulary call the force's recruitment hotline on 0800 358 3990.