QUALITY over quantity is the message from Wiltshire Police chief Gavin Williams, who saw the last of 940 applications to become a police constable arrive yesterday.

The force has spent this month trying to fill 50 vacancies for officers, but the hard work starts now, as the recruitment team must sift through the almost 1,000 applicants.

The overall number of interested parties does not quite meet the 1,400-plus who applied during the last recruitment drive, but the bar has been raised, with the need for a Level Three qualification now on the specification.

Supt Williams said the force was confident it could still attract the highest calibre of applicants in a move which would speed the entire process up.

“What we want to try and do, is get the right quality and right level of candidate on first submission to enable us the best chance of taking quality over quantity,” he said.

“These are national policing standards. The police still remains an excellent career choice.

“It’s really rewarding and no two days are the same. With variety, interest and training, we offer something special.

“We are looking for the right people, who wish to serve the public with all the right values. We want people who are physically fit and mentally agile, ready to serve the public in testing circumstances.

“I am certain there is no other job that will offer the same level of job satisfaction that the police can.”

Applicants had to be aged between 18 and 57 with a Level three qualification and GCSEs in English and maths. Honesty, integrity, determination and flexibility are listed as the necessary key skills for a job which starts with a salary at £19,383.

Most of those who start out as PCs will start out at four of the main Wiltshire Police hubs in Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury.