Operation Apex puts more police on beat (From Gazette)

Operation Apex puts more police on beat

7:00am Tuesday 8th September 2009 in Video By Emily Parsons

Essex Police have recruited an additional 239 police officers, at a cost of £11million as part of its Apex force investment campaign, temporary Chief Constable Andy Bliss has revealed.

In September 2008 Essex Police announced it was launching Operation Apex (Ambition for Policing in Essex), which promised to put an additional 600 officers back on the frontline in the next three to five years.

The officers are funded by carefully examining the finances, reducing unnecessary wastage, generating more income and partnership funding.

Mr Bliss has reveleaed the force has recruited an additional 239 police officers, at a cost of £11million.

These are made up of 189 constables, 36 sergeants, ten inspectors, three chief inspectors and one superintendent, and every division has received between 30 and 33 extra officers.

Mr Bliss explained: “This is not a publicity stunt. In the last year we have recruited almost 300 officers.”

He continued: “We have gone through all sorts of accounts to find money to put into frontline policing. Our target is £27million, and we have identified about £11million so far. There is a difficult economic climate, but we are continuing to grow.”

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