Since the start of the Government’s police recruitment drive last year, Hampshire Constabulary have recruited 102 new officers for the force, which includes the Gosport Police.
These 102 new recruits are part of the total 5824 people who have signed up to become a police officer in the past year – putting the Government well on track to reaching its manifesto target of recruiting 20,000 extra officers by 2023.
Caroline commented:
“It is fantastic to welcome over 100 new recruits to our Hampshire police force following the Government’s recruitment drive.
“Our police are vital not only to ensuring that our streets are safe, but also providing invaluable community support.
“It is a very hard, but rewarding career, and I wish all the recruits the best of luck in their new start.”
Alongside the recruitment campaign, the Government is also boosting police pay by 2.5% this year, the equivalent to a constable receiving an extra £1,100 and providing officers with an increase above inflation for the second year running.
Hampshire Constabulary itself has received an extra £26.1 million this year, an increase of 7.7% to help them keep streets safe and tackle crime.
Police will also see further protections as the new police covenant law comes into officer, bringing forward legislation to double the maximum sentence for convicted assault on frontline staff.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
“Getting more police officers on our streets is a priority for the British people–therefore a priority for me.
“Just one year since we began recruiting, I am delighted that there are nearly 6,000 of the 20,000 additional officers on our streets cutting crime and making your communities safer.
“As we’ve seen from the frontline response to coronavirus, the work of each and every police officer helps to save lives and I would like to extend my gratitude to them, and to the new recruits, for joining the police and being part of this heroic national effort.”
