Published at 15:07, Wednesday, 29 August 2012

CUMBRIA’S police force is poised to recruit a new wave of officers from external candidates after several years of falling numbers following spending cuts.

The force says it has now reached the point where it has to take on more bobbies after deciding not to fill posts following retirements, resignations and people transferring to other areas.

Some volunteer special constables and students studying policing at the University of Cumbria have landed jobs as constables in the last 12 months.

But the force is now recruiting from the public again after reducing numbers through “natural wastage” in recent years.

A police spokeswoman said: “Cumbria Constabulary is looking to recruit 18 members of the public.

“We have recruited in the last 12 months but this has been through a pool of candidates who have either been special constables or have studied the foundation degree at the University of Cumbria.

“On this occasion we are happy to be able to offer the opportunity to external candidates.”

The reduction in numbers came against a backdrop of spending cuts which has forced police chiefs to cut millions of pounds from the force budget.

Officer numbers at the start of this financial year stood at about 1,125 – 50 fewer than a year before and down from the 1,240 that policed the county in 2010.

Police officers can not be made redundant so the drop has come after officers retired or left their posts.

The spokeswoman added: “Over the last 12 months we have seen a reduction in the number of police officers through natural wastage, which includes retirement, resignation and transferees.

“With more police officers due to retire before the end of the financial year, we have reached the stage where we have to ensure that we can sustain our neighbourhood policing teams throughout the constabulary.”

Despite the drop in numbers, crime has continued to fall, with offences down by three per cent in 2011/12 on the previous year.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk