Essex Police are up to full strength with 3,200 officers following one of the most successful recruiting campaigns in recent years.

The latest recruiting campaign saw 1,800 applicants since January this year and now there are 359 waiting for training to work for the previously hard-pressed county force, which has a record of having one of the fewest officers per head of population among forces in the country.

Interestingly, some officers who had left the force to join the better paid Metropolitan Force are now returning because of better working environment.

When fully trained, an 18-year-old can earn £21,807 and at 48 retire on two thirds salary, and have the option of retiring after 25 years on half pay.

An Essex Police spokeswoman described the latest recuiting campaign as being "extremely succesful."

Historically Essex Police has always fought to bring its force up to strength but now it has apparently turned the corner and Chief Constable David Stevens has described candidates as "good quality."

The initial exams saw 50 per cent initially drop by the wayside, following a competency questionnaire with 75 per cent passing the second stage.

The spokeswoman added: "We have been pleased, as the Chief Constable has said, about the quality of those who are now waiting to train with us. The pay is better now and because of worries in the private sector we are being increasingly seen as an excellent long term employment service."

Published Tuesday October 26, 2004

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