New officers to meet community

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins

OLDHAM is set to see 11 new officers as GMP takes on it's latest recruits with over a third from black and ethnic minorities as the force looks to encourage applicants for frontline roles from all backgrounds.

The 100 new recruits, the third instalment this year, of which over 90 per cent are civilian applicants, will spend this week being introduced to their future communities.

The 'Engagement Week', which started on Monday, will provide them with the chance to meet with a number of local community and faith groups, as well as learn more about their borough's policing priorities.

Authority

After a two-year probation period, which includes classroom-based learning and one year on active patrol, the civilian applicants will become fully-fledged police officers.

During their training they will have the same level of authority as regular officers, including the power of arrest.

Five hundred new recruits are expected to join GMP this financial year alone, which will maintain the number of frontline officers at its current level.

Chief Con Ian Hopkins said: "The Engagement Week provides a fantastic opportunity for our future frontline officers to go out and meet the communities where they will be working.

"It is extremely important that as well as learning from our experienced officers about their neighbourhoods, that the new recruits are introduced to the diverse range of communities that make up Greater Manchester.

"By being open and speaking directly with our communities, our officers can learn first-hand what concerns local people may have."

Effective

He added: "GMP continues to be fully committed to both keeping the public safe through effective policing and to be a service that reflects the communities of Greater Manchester that we serve.

"In this intake alone over a third of the recruits are from black and minority ethnic communities and GMP welcomes and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply for frontline roles during our recruitment drives throughout the year."