Met to offer recruits part-time work to attract more women

 The Metropolitan Police is to become the first force in the UK to allow new officers to work part time in an attempt to recruit and retain more female constables.

From November, all new recruits will be given the option of working part time, either completing 16 hours a week for £13,000 a year or 24 hours a week for £18,200.

The opportunity will be open to both men and women.

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick is keen to increase the proportion of women in Scotland Yard.

Currently, around a third of new recruits are women, but Ms Dick has set a target of 50 per cent.

The move comes in the year the Met celebrates the centenary of the first women officers.

Ms Dick said: “One of the obstacles stopping people becoming a police officer has been the lack of flexibility in how they have to train and balance their family life.

“We will continue to break down barriers where we know they exist as we strive to open up a career in the Met to even more people.”

Commander Catherine Roper, force lead on professionalism, said: “I am thrilled that the Met is now able to offer this opportunity.”

Currently, all recruits have to complete their training and probationary period on a full-time basis before being able to apply for part-time working.