South Yorkshire Police recruitment drive continues

The force will accept more applications next month in its drive to boost numbers on the frontline, with the organisation describing the role of a police officer as a ‘rewarding, challenging, life-changing role in which you can support your community and make a difference each and every day’.

FUNDING: South Yorkshire Police-led project secures funding for another year to transform way police service works

But as bosses prepare to re-open the next recruitment window next month, Home Office figures suggest the force has a tougher task ahead than some others.

CRIME: Darnall stabbing: No arrests made as police continue to investigate

Six months after the national recruitment drive was launched in September, South Yorkshire Police was 58 below the starting figure of 2,535 against which its government target was set.

APPEAL: Police search continues for missing Sheffield man

It needs to sign up 151 new officers on top of that by March next year to meet its initial quota.

But both the Home Office and South Yorkshire Police stress that the force had just announced its own recruitment drive before the government unveiled plans for another 20,000 bobbies, so its progress against its target has been affected.

A total of 3,005 recruits joined up across all 43 forces in the first half-year of the uplift programme, putting them on course to meet the collective goal of 6,000 by March next year.

Across all forces, the headcount stood at 131,596 – a five per cent increase on March last year.

Boris Johnson pledged to expand the police service to more than 140,000 officers by mid-2022 if he was elected Prime Minister.

But police officer numbers in England and Wales had already fallen by more than 20,000 since 2009, with a reduction from 144,353 to 122,395 in 2018.

South Yorkshire Police said: “Ambitious plans are in place for the next three years and we remain in a position to achieve our targets. It is anticipated we will reach our 2020/21 target in January 2021.

“By the end of March 2021, we are expected to be 70 officers above our initial forecast.

“At present, there are 913 applicants going through various stages of the recruitment process and this number will continue to grow.”