Call goes out for new recruits as police seek to make up numbers

HUMBERSIDE POLICE will start recruiting again this summer as the force tries to make up numbers after years of decline.

The force has 1,550 officers 650 less than a decade ago.

It came after the new chief constable Lee Freeman vowed to accelerate the recruitment process, saying the force “absolutely need more resources to assist them.”

So far the force has taken on 60 recruits in two intakes last September and December.

Would-be candidates can find out more at events at the Joint Special Operations Unit at Melton, off the A63, on July 12, July 25 and July 26 at 5.30pm.

Applications will be taken from August 1 to August 6.

The force says it is reaching out to under-represented groups and is looking for more diversity in its workforce. In his first interview following his appointment Mr – Freeman said: “Humberside Police have had some of the deepest cuts in terms of any force in the country.

“I’ve inherited a recruitment plan that’s really going to see an increase over the next three and a half years, and I want to accelerate that.

“Our police officers and PCSOs are working really hard but they absolutely need more resources to assist them. I want to fasttrack recruitment over the next 18 months.”

Tony Green, branch secretary of Humberside Police Staff Branch, said: “The harsh reality is that the police workforce has been decimated. Yes, they are training new police officers, but that’s to replace people we have lost. We are not going to be in a better position than we were seven years ago, we will still be in a far worse position than we were.”