600 new recruits “bolster” South Yorkshire Police numbers

MORE bobbies are on the beat in the region, according to South Yorkshire Police, who said the force was on track to top 3,000 officers following a national recruitment programme.

The force's strength has grown by 600 police officers since 2019, when the start of the National Police Uplift Programme saw the government commit to recruit 20,000 extra police officers before March 2023. 

At the time, South Yorkshire Police  had a police officer headcount of under 2,500 officers.

By March 2023, the force is on track to reach a level of 3,108 officers.

Assistant chief officer of resources Jacqueline Bland said: “We are proud of our recruitment efforts over the last three years — we have been in a continually strong position when it’s come to the recruitment of student officers and I know we have managed to attract some real talent to the force.

“We know the public want to see more police officers on the streets, and this is exactly what we are working to do. New recruits are bolstering our existing neighbourhood policing teams, meaning more officers in each locality across the county.

“We’ve also been working hard to attract candidates from underrepresented groups. South Yorkshire is celebrated as a diverse county and it’s important our officers reflect that.”