TV commercials highlighting policing’s central role in the
community will air today, alongside fresh social media
adverts designed to attract applicants from a variety of
backgrounds.
The campaign aims to capitalise on the community spirit
shown by the British public during the coronavirus
pandemic, which presents an unprecedented opportunity for
people to make a difference by joining the police.
Thousands of additional officers have already been
recruited and are supporting the emergency services’
response to the virus.
Home Secretary said:
Getting more police officers on the streets to keep us
all safe is an absolute priority for the British people –
and this government.
The heroic efforts of officers up and down the country
have been crucial in protecting the NHS and saving lives
during this pandemic.
There’s never been a better time to join the police to
make a difference in your community.
The Home Secretary recently held a call with new recruits
from Lancashire Constabulary, who told her that they had
the “best job in the world” and that a career policing was
“more important than ever” in the face of the coronavirus
pandemic.
More than 3,000 additional officers joined the police’s
ranks from the beginning of the campaign to the end of
March 2020, putting the government on track to meets its
target of 6,000 by March 2021.
Since then police forces have been reporting an increase in
applications amid the coronavirus pandemic.
West Midlands Police has seen record numbers apply to be
student police officers, 75% higher than its normal
average, with as many women applying for this role as men –
a first in the force’s history.
Chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Martin
Hewitt, said:
This TV commercial is an exciting first for policing,
informing a wide TV audience that we continue to recruit
for police officers. We want everyone to know that we are
open for recruitment.
The pandemic has presented everyone with new challenges
but it is essential that we continue to build our
policing capacity by attracting and training new police
officers. Now is a great time to consider whether you
could make your difference by joining our ranks.
The College of Policing has also recently announced the
rollout of new online assessment centres, which will ensure
that recruitment continues at pace during the coronavirus
outbreak.
The online assessment process will take candidates through
situational judgement tests, briefing exercises and
interviews. Forces are already trialling this platform and
the service will be available to forces in England and
Wales from June.
New recruits are receiving prioritised training so they can
be safely deployed to the frontline and support the
police’s emergency response in 7 to 8 weeks, rather than
the usual 12 to 16.
Tanya Wilkins, Detective Chief Inspector at West Yorkshire
Police, said:
Being a police officer was a childhood ambition and I am
proud to wear the uniform.
No two days are ever the same, each day you learn and
expect the unexpected. But the thing I love most about my
job is helping other people and making a real difference.
I would encourage anyone, from any background, to
consider joining and serving within the policing family.
