SOUTH Yorkshire Police force is running a \u2018police return scheme\u2019, asking retired officers to re-join the force to help boost numbers.<\/p>\n
The force wants to recruit 700 officers, as well as another 700 to replace those due to leave or retire in the next three years.<\/p>\n
South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Steve Kent said he supports the plan: \u201cThey\u2019ll work part-time, as they can\u2019t work over what they would have earned as a full-time police officer and they need to take their pension into account. They\u2019ll be in a new role where we can accommodate them, where their experience would be valued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not expecting that people are going to come back into response. They\u2019re more than welcome to, but they are more likely to fill back-office roles like training, and core handling duties. Why wouldn\u2019t we want to retain that experience? I don\u2019t see many drawbacks to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
So far the force has received 12-15 applications and is expecting around 20. The large recruitment drive elsewhere at South Yorkshire Police force means the force will receive an influx of younger applicants, so Steve sees this as an opportunity to retain some more experienced officers.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cFor example, custody sergeants could come back and do two days a week. I know there\u2019s risks involved in that, but if they\u2019re happy and confident to do it, that serves everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n