Wiltshire Police on track to recruit extra officers
It's part of the Uplift recruitment programme
Last updated 29th Oct 2021
More than sixty new officers have joined Wiltshire Police as part of the uplift scheme to recruit 20,000 police across the country.
The government campaign will look to fund 148 new officers to bring the expected number of police in Wiltshire to 1,150 by March 2023.
Over 250 new officers have joined the force since its inception in September 2019 with another 200 set to start in the next 18 months — this is made up of both additional uplift officers and those recruited to replace leavers.
In 2019, GMB’s union for police staff revealed that 23,500 police staff jobs had been lost since 2010.
Police staff covers a wide range of roles including custody officers, 999 call handlers, PCSOs, scene of crime investigators, and technical and administrative support jobs.
Police & Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson said that the delivery of the promised new officers is key to ensuring residents feel safe.
“These additional officers will provide a much-needed bolster for the force to better protect communities, support victims and ultimately help make Wiltshire a safer place to live, work and visit,” he said.
“That said, whilst officer numbers are important, it is more important that we are getting the right people through the door.
“I continue to work with the chief constable to ensure that vetting procedures are fit for purpose and that relevant policies and procedures are tightened up where required, to ensure public confidence in the force.”
According to the OPCC, there has been an increase in the number of officers and staff from ethnic minority backgrounds.
In March 2020 only 1.89 per cent of the force was comprised of ethnic minority staff.
A figure which rose to 2.5 per cent in September this year compared to a wiltshire population of 5.5 per cent.
A spokesman for the police said: “In Wiltshire Police’s most recent officer recruitment campaign earlier this year, 8 per cent of applicants were from an ethnic minority background and work continues to better engage with under-represented groups.
“There was also an increase in the number of female officers from 35 per cent to 36.7 per cent compared with a national average of 34 per cent, and with the force having one of the lowest attrition rates for female leavers in the country.”
Here is some more information on joining the police and the application process.