West Midlands Police gets 100 more officers on beat

The recruitment drive will see the force hire 100 new personnel to help put officers in office-based posts back on the beat.

The positions are being created to replace officers who are currently based in the contact department handing all calls to the force and acting as the first point of contact for people walking into police stations.

Since he was elected in November, Bob Jones says he has been working to put more police back onto the streets.

He said: "I am very pleased we can get up to 100 extra pairs of feet on the ground. Earlier this year I committed to putting more officers back on the beat and this is part of that promise.

"We continue to work within stringent financial conditions but I am committed to being able to ensure the best possible policing service for local communities despite any financial setback."

The move comes amid sweeping jobs cuts made by the force in recent times after Government budget cuts.

In the wake of the spending review announced by George Osborne earlier this year Mr Jones said the new reductions meant the force had to be prepared for another 350 police officers and 250 back-room staff to go.

That comes on top of the 2,200 offices and staff already lost from its 13,500 workforce.

The first set of vacancies will see staff recruited to work within police station front offices where they will be involved in dealing with members of the public face-to-face, who go into police stations for help and advice or to report incidents or to produce documents.

Recruitment is already under way with front office vacancies available at Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Bournville police stations.The remaining posts available are for 101 non-emergency call-handlers.

The recruitment drive comes after the force announced last year that it was merging 12 sites that handle non-emergency calls into two hubs in West Bromwich and Birmingham.

Mr Jones added: "Over the last 12 months the force has been involved in a detailed programme of work to improve call-handling standards and has made significant in-roads to that effect.

"I am delighted this piece of work, whilst bringing significant savings, is able to create jobs as well as putting officers back on the beat."

The creation of the new roles are set to support the commissioner's planned recruitment drive for 50 new PCSOs and 50 new special constables.

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