Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to encourage people of a broad age range to apply to join the police.

The Government is delivering on the people’s priorities by recruiting an additional 20,000 police officers over the next three years.

The 20,000 officer uplift is a once in a generation opportunity to enable all forces become more representative of the communities they serve. We are already seeing applications from a wide range of candidates with diverse backgrounds and from a range of ages who are bringing unique skillsets and experience to the police service.

We are supporting forces with a variety of attraction and recruitment strategies, whilst delivering a campaign that’s been designed to reach the widest and most diverse audience possible including those who have never considered a policing career. Sharing best practice, engagement with police associations, upskilling recruitment teams and enhanced data capture are just some of the efforts being made to improve police diversity.

Amendments to Police Regulations made this year mean that individuals can apply to join the police at 17 years of age for appointment on reaching 18 years, opening the way for candidates wishing to apply to join the police.