Alan Chambers MLA, Ulster Unionist Policing Board Member has welcomed the figures that have been released regarding the recent recruitment drive for student police officers and the important role of call handlers.

Chambers said, “This latest recruitment drive for Student Officers, which launched on Wednesday 22 January and closed on Wednesday 12 February, has attracted a total of 4,822 applications. The Call Handler competition which launched on Monday 27 January and closed on Monday 17 February attracted 587 applicants seeking to pursue a career in policing.

“The PSNI are to be congratulated for the outreach work they carried out before the launch of the current recruitment drive, meeting and encouraging many worthy candidates from all backgrounds and walks of life to apply and thus ensure a diverse pool of applicants.

“I look forward to a successful selection of people who will go on to have a satisfying and fulfilling career, providing a first-class policing service to the public of Northern Ireland.”