Dorset Police news site

Dorset Police has welcomed hundreds of new police officers over the last three years as part of the national Uplift programme, injecting much-needed resources to frontline teams.

By Friday 31 March 2023 the Force had recruited 174 new police officers as part of the programme, which was eight officers above the allocation set by the Government.

This has been the biggest recruitment drive in the Force’s history and is in addition to the normal annual officer recruitment required to replace our colleagues who resign, retire or leave the Force.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: "This is the largest intake of trainee officers in Dorset since the creation of Police and Crime Commissioners back in 2012. It represents an increase of 13.7 per cent from the lowest point in 2019 going from 1,267 officers to 1,441 officers.

"These new recruits will mean there are more officers serving the people and communities of Dorset and adding extra strength and depth to the service. I would like to wish each new recruit well in their chosen career as they go out in our communities to fight crime, put victims first and keep people safe. Each new recruit is integral to the Police and Crime Plan and in particular the priority of our police being more visible, connected and engaged with the community and in striving toward the ambition of making Dorset the safest county. I have been very clear that it is visibility in our communities that the people of Dorset want to see and it is these additional officers that will ensure that it is achieved.

“I am particularly pleased that Dorset has not only achieved but exceeded the recruitment target it had been set and I would like to thank all the staff involved in working so hard to get so many new recruits enrolled.

"I would also like to thank the people of Dorset, whose contribution through the policing precept is helping to make Dorset Police better equipped, better resourced and more visible and connected to the communities they serve.”

Chief Constable Amanda Pearson said: “Uplift has provided us with the opportunity to recruit additional resources to deliver our vision of making Dorset safe for everyone. 

“The recruitment teams have worked tirelessly over the last three years to ensure we have recruited the right people with the right attributes to become police officers in Dorset. I have been fortunate enough to have met a number of our new recruits since I arrived in Force and they all share the same level of passion, energy and commitment to be tough on crime, keep people safe and put victims and witnesses first.

“While a number of these officers are still going through their training, there are many who are already in operational roles and making a real difference in our communities with 78 out of 117 of our officers recruited in the first two years being allocated to response and neighbourhood policing. We have also invested in critical safeguarding and investigation roles where they will contribute to putting victims first and keeping people safe.”

During this recruitment drive the Force has continued to focus on increasing diversity thanks to its Positive Action programme and other initiatives. Since 2019 there has been an increase in officers identifying as white non-British by 11 from 16 to 27. We have seen an increase in officers identifying as Black, Asian, or ethnically diverse by 19 from 20 to 39 and an increase in female officers from 382 to 472.

The Force is committed to sustaining police officer numbers over the coming years and plans are already in place to recruit a further 155 officers by the end of March 2024.

Chief Constable Amanda Pearson continued: “Policing is a truly unique job, where no two days are the same and one where you can make a real difference to people’s lives in our communities, helping them to become safer and feel safer. Our officers are professional, compassionate and courageous and we continue to look for more people to come and join this hugely rewarding role.

“Whilst we have increased the diversity of our workforce over recent years, we know that there is still a way to go, and we are committed to further encouraging people from underrepresented groups to join our policing family so we can better reflect the communities we serve.”  

Police Constable Beverley Beck is based in the Poole Neighbourhood Policing Team and joined policing after spending years working for the civil service and Foreign Office.

She said: “I have wanted to be a police officer for over 20 years, but I never really had the courage to go for it. Then three years ago, I saw that Dorset were recruiting, so I started the process.

“The training has been a little challenging for me given that I have been out of full-time education for a very long time, but I have loved every minute.

“I would recommend it to somebody else. It is a job I have always wanted to do and never had the courage to try, but I decided to go for it. I wanted to be in a job where it wasn’t going to be the same day in and day out and where I would be making a difference and having an impact on people’s lives every single day.”

Police Constable Jody Durkin-Jones joined the Force in August 2021. She said: “Prior to joining the Force, I was a primary school teacher and before that I worked for the fire and rescue service as a retained firefighter.

“I would describe the training process as challenging but very rewarding and I would tell anyone thinking of joining to prepare for a role that promises to be different every day, but isn’t the normal 9 to 5.”

There are a number of different entry routes into policing. You can find out more about being a police officer with Dorset Police and apply via the Force website: https://recruitment.dorset.police.uk/dorset-police-careers/dorset-police-officers/dorset-your-police-career/