MORE police officers will soon be hitting the streets of Warwickshire, with 150 extra bobbies due on the beat by the end of the year.
A group of 11 student officers are heading out on patrol with tutor constables, having completed their initial training.
The new officers were congratulated on their achievement in a special passing out ceremony at Warwick School, attended by Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe and Assistant Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith.
Total officer numbers will rise from around 800 to 950 when new officers graduate in July, August and September.
Mr Seccombe said: “Our recent recruitment campaign has been very successful, with a number of experienced officers transferring to Warwickshire from other forces to join the ranks alongside our newly-qualified officers.
“I am confident the public will start to see the difference this will make.”
The new officers are funded through increases to Warwickshire Police’s portion of Council Tax in 2017/18 and 2018/19. The extra money will also pay for extra Police Community Support Officers, Special Constables and staff investigators.