Force success with recruitment drive

4 May 2021

Derbyshire Police Federation chair Tony Wetton welcomed new Home Office figures which show the Force is on target in its drive to recruit more officers.

The Force has had an uplift of 95 officers in the first full year of the Police Uplift Programme, putting it ahead of its allocation of 85.

Derbyshire Constabulary now has 1,922 officers, up from 1,827 at the start of the campaign, according to the Government statistics.

Tony said: “It’s really pleasing to see the Force is on target with its recruitment drive. Our new colleagues are a welcome addition and are already playing their part in policing the pandemic and providing the day-to-day service that the public expect.

“On behalf of the Federation I wish them every success.”

The Government figures show the Force recruited 168 new officers, and Tony said it shows the need to work on retention as well as recruitment.

“There’s still plenty of work to do as we head into the next phase of recruitment to ensure that not only are we attractive to prospective officers, but that we retain our new recruits and experienced colleagues as well,” he said.

“Indeed, their skills and expertise will be vital in developing the next generation of officers.”

Nationally, the Home Office figures show there were 137,704 officers in the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales as at 31 March – an increase of 8,771 officers.

Meanwhile, forces are being encouraged to use new tax breaks to recruit more officers from military backgrounds.

Companies and public sector organisations which employ armed forces veterans are now exempt from paying National Insurance contributions during the first 12 months of their employment.

This new tax relief came into force on 6 April and is available to every employer - regardless of when a veteran left the regular armed forces. 

John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “This is good news and shows the Government recognises the value and contribution veterans can bring through their life experiences and strong transferable skills.

“As part of our current national recruitment campaign, forces need to grab this opportunity with both hands and do all they can to recruit people with life experience, and this includes ex-military who can contribute so much to policing.”