Nearly 200 extra frontline officers are destined for Essex thanks to a chunk of £667 million Government cash, it has been revealed.

The Crime Fighting Fund money is to pay for 9,000 new recruits in England and Wales - of which Essex is to get 197 to thicken its thin blue line.

The county was already in line for 103 additional recruits to be phased in over three years.

But the recent Government spending review pumped in money for 4,000 more officers to be recruited nationally on top of the 5,000 announced in September 1999.

The Home Office today announced Essex's share would be an extra 94 bobbies on the beat - providing the force kept cutting costs and crime.

But the county is already finding great difficulty in recruiting the 260 new officers it needs to bring the force up to full strength - let alone another 200.

Despite the biggest recruiting campaign in its history - including television adverts - there have been less than 600 application forms returned. Normally only a tenth of applicants prove successful.

Philip Onions, Essex Police chief officer, welcomed the additional funding but highlighted the force's recruitment difficulties.

Mr Onions said: "The chief constable of Essex is very keen to secure some sort of enhanced payment for officers joining Essex Police.

"There are discussions with other forces surrounding London. The outcome of these discussions is likely to be a factor in determining the success of recruitment in Essex."

Home Office minister Barbara Roche said: "Forces across England and Wales have now been given an unexpected boost to their existing and already enhanced recruitment plans."

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