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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Met police recruits wait to start | Met police recruits wait to start |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The UK's largest police force has implemented a recruitment freeze, forcing 2,000 successful applicants to wait before starting their jobs. | The UK's largest police force has implemented a recruitment freeze, forcing 2,000 successful applicants to wait before starting their jobs. |
| The Metropolitan Police says there were fewer roles because of the "current economic position". | |
| Other forces in England and Wales have also informed candidates they are in the same position. | Other forces in England and Wales have also informed candidates they are in the same position. |
| The revelation comes as police leaders meet to discuss cost-cutting measures, including reducing officer numbers. | The revelation comes as police leaders meet to discuss cost-cutting measures, including reducing officer numbers. |
| The government wants the 43 police forces in England and Wales to find total savings of £545m by 2014. | The government wants the 43 police forces in England and Wales to find total savings of £545m by 2014. |
| A spokesman for the 33,000-strong Met said it was considering what to do with its applicants, who are yet to undergo police training. | A spokesman for the 33,000-strong Met said it was considering what to do with its applicants, who are yet to undergo police training. |
| He said: "We have around 2,000 candidates in the system waiting for a start date. | He said: "We have around 2,000 candidates in the system waiting for a start date. |
| "This is due to a number of very successful recruitment campaigns last year, coupled with far fewer officers leaving than expected, largely due to the current economic position." | "This is due to a number of very successful recruitment campaigns last year, coupled with far fewer officers leaving than expected, largely due to the current economic position." |
| "This has left us with more candidates than vacancies, which is not what we predicted when we embarked on our campaign." | "This has left us with more candidates than vacancies, which is not what we predicted when we embarked on our campaign." |
| Online forum | Online forum |
| The Met candidates had passed the first stage of the application process and were awaiting a fitness test and criminal records check when they were told they would not be able to start as early as planned. | The Met candidates had passed the first stage of the application process and were awaiting a fitness test and criminal records check when they were told they would not be able to start as early as planned. |
| Potential recruits have discussed the deferral on the Police Oracle online forum, with several expressing dismay and confusion over their delay in starting work. | Potential recruits have discussed the deferral on the Police Oracle online forum, with several expressing dismay and confusion over their delay in starting work. |
| The Met is among several forces that has had to rethink its recruitment plans, although the number of people now on its waiting list, is in some cases more than the number of officers some forces have altogether. | The Met is among several forces that has had to rethink its recruitment plans, although the number of people now on its waiting list, is in some cases more than the number of officers some forces have altogether. |
| "More people are staying in the Met than ever before... but [the Met Police is] fortunate that many of [the recruits] will be accepted in the next 12 months." Peter Smythe | "More people are staying in the Met than ever before... but [the Met Police is] fortunate that many of [the recruits] will be accepted in the next 12 months." Peter Smythe |
| Peter Smythe, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said he had some sympathy for the force but it was an "unfortunate situation" for those having to wait. | Peter Smythe, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said he had some sympathy for the force but it was an "unfortunate situation" for those having to wait. |
| He said: "More people are staying in the Met than ever before... but [the Met Police is] fortunate that many of [the recruits] will be accepted in the next 12 months." | He said: "More people are staying in the Met than ever before... but [the Met Police is] fortunate that many of [the recruits] will be accepted in the next 12 months." |
| Changing forces | Changing forces |
| West Midlands Police said it has 240 police officer applicants who have passed all stages of the recruitment process and are waiting for a job, while a further 500 are currently being assessed. | West Midlands Police said it has 240 police officer applicants who have passed all stages of the recruitment process and are waiting for a job, while a further 500 are currently being assessed. |
| Greater Manchester Police is implementing a complete freeze from April this year. | Greater Manchester Police is implementing a complete freeze from April this year. |
| But Avon and Somerset Constabulary said it continued to have vacancies and it was a possibility that those told to defer their applications by other forces may apply to them instead. | But Avon and Somerset Constabulary said it continued to have vacancies and it was a possibility that those told to defer their applications by other forces may apply to them instead. |
| Cleveland Police said although it has a waiting list of 102 successful recruits waiting to be placed, this was normal and not due to economic constraints. | Cleveland Police said although it has a waiting list of 102 successful recruits waiting to be placed, this was normal and not due to economic constraints. |
| Deputy chief constable Derek Bonnard said: "Whilst I recognise the frustration of those who are keenly waiting to join the police service, the process generally takes around 18 months and we are simply aligning anticipated vacancies to our recruit intakes." | Deputy chief constable Derek Bonnard said: "Whilst I recognise the frustration of those who are keenly waiting to join the police service, the process generally takes around 18 months and we are simply aligning anticipated vacancies to our recruit intakes." |
| The meeting of the police workforce strategy board is looking at proposals to save £400m by ensuring all forces in England and Wales had an equal mix of officers and civilian staff. | The meeting of the police workforce strategy board is looking at proposals to save £400m by ensuring all forces in England and Wales had an equal mix of officers and civilian staff. |
| West Yorkshire Police also has a recruitment freeze in place | West Yorkshire Police also has a recruitment freeze in place |
| A paper submitted to the board also states that a further £70m could be saved if forces replaced managers with constables. It suggests up to £120m could be saved if recruits put themselves through a new accredited course before being accepted into police forces. | A paper submitted to the board also states that a further £70m could be saved if forces replaced managers with constables. It suggests up to £120m could be saved if recruits put themselves through a new accredited course before being accepted into police forces. |
| Other proposals mooted include the prospect of 28,000 fewer officers in England and Wales as civilian staff take over frontline roles. | Other proposals mooted include the prospect of 28,000 fewer officers in England and Wales as civilian staff take over frontline roles. |
| The paper - drawn up by Surrey chief constable Mark Rowley and Althea Loderick, of the National Policing Improvement Agency - was merely to stimulate discussion, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said. | The paper - drawn up by Surrey chief constable Mark Rowley and Althea Loderick, of the National Policing Improvement Agency - was merely to stimulate discussion, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said. |