More than 200 new police officers being taken on in South Yorkshire

A recruitment drive is underway to take on more than 200 new police officers in South Yorkshire.
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Earlier this week, Rishi Sunak, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told the House of Commons that South Yorkshire Police will benefit from 206 extra officers this year.

Of those, 151 are being employed as part of a national recruitment drive by the Government and 55 are being funded by last year’s council tax.

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Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, told The Star: “I welcome the Government’s commitment to fund extra officers for the coming year and I hope they will continue to fully fund them in future years.

South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner said the extra officers will be a 'welcome and much-needed addition'.South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner said the extra officers will be a 'welcome and much-needed addition'.
South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner said the extra officers will be a 'welcome and much-needed addition'.

“A recruitment process is already well underway to fill these posts, along with the 55 already agreed and funded from the council tax precept last year.

“These extra officers will be a welcome and much-needed addition to the force in helping to tackle the ever increasing demand on policing services.”

Mr Sunak added that the Home Office has given an extra £1.6million of funding to the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit.

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Based in Sheffield, the unit works to prevent and reduce violence across South Yorkshire, including knife crime.

Dr Billings said: “The Home Office investment into establishing a Violence Reduction Unit here in South Yorkshire has enabled us to establish a partnership response to serious violence in two ways. First by taking a hard line with offenders and second by co-ordinating a long-term, preventative approach to violence to tackle the root causes and not simply dealing with the aftermath of crimes.

“The recent announcement of a further £1.6m to continue this work for the next financial year is appreciated.

“However, we will be looking to the Government for longer-term commitment to this work.

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“This will enable us to better plan and really get upstream of some of the problems that lead to our young people being pulled into a life of violence and to be able to offer alternative choices that provide safer and more stable lifestyles.”

For more information about vacancies at South Yorkshire Police, visit www.southyorks.police.uk/sign-up/join-team-syp