National campaign to recruit 20,000 police officers launches today

A campaign to kick-start the Prime Minister’s pledge to recruit 20,000 new police officers nationally begins today – up to 6,000 officers are to be recruited in the first year

In Bedfordshire, the current regular officer recruitment window has been extended into next month in support of the national campaign.

It is not yet known the exact number of the overall uplift who will be recruited into Bedfordshire. The funding available for new posts will be over and above the employment of officers to cover existing vacancies.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Sharn Basra said:

“This uplift is a fantastic opportunity for policing nationally, and is especially welcome in Bedfordshire where we have long campaigned for additional funding to help put officers on the streets of our county.

“We have lobbied government to recognise the challenges posed by serious violence, organised crime and exploitation, while we also focus on building community relationships and tackling the issues which matter to people most from the ground level up.

“In Bedfordshire we aspire to be a force for all – by truly reflecting the communities that we serve. I hope that this investment into our service will encourage people from all backgrounds and walks of life to serve their community by joining our ranks.”

The ‘Be a force for all’ campaign has been developed by the Home Office in partnership with the police and using feedback from the public via independent research.

The campaign will be on billboards and digital displays at locations across England and Wales, including at shopping centres and railway stations, as well as in radio advertisement.

Visit the Bedfordshire Police website to learn more about applying to become a police officer.