Essex will get fair share of new officers

9 January 2020

ESSEX is on track to boost its ranks and train up new officers and staff over the next two years, the force’s Federation has said.

Essex Police has seen record numbers of new applications after it was announced that between now and March 2021 an extra 135 police officers would be hired. The force has already hired 368 officers over the previous two years.

Steve Taylor, Essex Police Federation Chairman, said: “We’ve taken that increase in funding, the calculations have been done and Essex is looking to increase expenditure to the tune of 135 warranted officers. That’s about 75% of the increase in funding we expect to receive. The other 25% will come in support staff, because it’s a false economy to simply build the front line, you’ve got to build the support around it as well.

“It is going to take time, however. Not just as the Government delivers on its promises and the funding comes through – but it’s also going to take time to train new officers to get them completely up to speed and delivering out on the front line.

“So, the timeframes seem reasonable. We’re not short of people applying to be officers, and we’re confident that Essex is going to get its fair share.”

Speaking in October, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: “I am delighted that September was a record month for new applications to join our ranks. We have great opportunities for people who feel they would fit the bill either as a uniformed officer, as a detective or as a Special Constable and I would welcome anyone who wants to make Essex an even safer place to live and work to step forward and join us.”