Boost for police officer numbers

Wiltshire Police is increasing the number of police officers being trained and recruited this year, as part of the Government’s drive for police forces to recruit an additional 20,000 police officers.

This week (26 January 2022) the Home Office published its quarterly update on progress police forces in England and Wales are making towards achieving targets set by the Police Uplift Programme, which runs to March 2023.

Nationally, an extra 11,048 police officers have been recruited from funding for Uplift between October 2019 and December 2021. The 20,000-recruitment target - which is in addition to the normal turnover of officers who retire or leave the service each year - will ease the pressure on policing, help reduce crime, increase visibility, and improve outcomes for victims.

Wiltshire is on track to meet its Year 2 Uplift target of 48 additional officers, including two officers seconded to the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, by the end March. The Force expects to exceed this target with around a dozen more officers than prescribed, although numbers fluctuate depending on numbers of officers retiring or leaving each month.  More than 200 officers have begun training in Wiltshire since the start of the Uplift programme in 2019.

“This year promises to be a good year for officer numbers, with our largest ever police officer recruitment and training programme. We are looking to bring in around 160 new officers to start training in the next 14 months,” said Chris McMullin, Director of People and Change.

“It’s great news for the public and more opportunities for those considering a career as a police officer in Wiltshire.

“We want to attract and retain police officers from a wide range of backgrounds to serve the public and a police service which fully represents our community. I strongly encourage people from under-represented groups, particularly women and people from all ethnic minority backgrounds, to come forward and join us.

“You can contribute to your community, help people in need and develop fantastic skills along the way,” Mr McMullin added.

Police Officer recruitment opens in April 2022 and anyone interested can pre-register now on the Force Talent Bank by visiting www.wiltshire.police.uk/careers or search Wiltshire police officer recruitment.