Police to start recruiting again

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/8628443.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Gloucestershire Constabulary is to begin employing new police officers from July.

It had been operating a recruitment freeze since April 2009 because of budgetary constraints.

At present 100 people have passed the initial assessment and are on a waiting list for positions to become available.

Successful candidates will be contacted with the first of 12 joining in June. Another 36 Pcs are due to join the force between July and March 2011.

'Ambitious programme'

Deputy Chief Constable Mick Matthews said: "I am delighted that we are now able to begin accepting new recruits to the force again.

"Since the freeze on recruitment we have embarked on an ambitious, but achievable, programme to reduce costs while maintaining service.

"The constabulary will not be advertising for new recruits or accepting applications from people wanting to join the force.

"The only people being accepted as new Pcs at present are those who have already passed the assessment centre process with Gloucestershire Constabulary.

In March Avon and Somerset Police advertised 64 jobs for student police officers and were overwhelmed by the response with 1,100 application packs sent out in seven hours.