Thirty five new trainees took their first steps towards becoming a Wiltshire Police Constable this week, joining 15 others who have just finished their initial training.

The trainees took part in a special inspection parade outside Police Headquarters in Devizes.

The group was welcomed by Assistant Chief Constable Kier Pritchard and Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson, who spoke to all 50 recruits during the official ceremony.

ACC Kier Pritchard said: “It’s fantastic to welcome our latest recruits to Wiltshire Police at the start of their career and for them to have the chance to spend their first few days with our current trainees in their final few days before they head out on patrol next week.

“Inspections like this are not just for show; we expect the highest professional standards of our police officers. Looking smart is very important both to us as a Force and what the public expect from us to earn their respect.”

Commenting on his first week in the job, Joseph Rees, who previously worked as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in Swindon, said he was excited to have been accepted onto the Police Constable training course. “It’s a highly desirable job with plenty of opportunities and high profile too, always being in the public eye.”

Laura Todd from Chippenham also worked as a PCSO before her successful application to train as a Police Constable. “Although I’ve loved the last two years, I’ve always wanted to be a police officer and am thrilled to have the chance now to fulfill my career dream.”

Wiltshire Police is stepping up recruitment for Police Constables (PCs) and PCSOs, who work together with Local Crime Investigators in integrated Community Policing Teams across Wiltshire and Swindon.

Recruitment for PCs and PSCOs opens again in early September, with all jobs advertised on the Force website www.wiltshirepolice.uk.

Recruitment is currently underway for contact centre operators in the 24 hour Crime and Communications Centre in Devizes.

The force is seeing renewed interest in its work following the current Channel 4 TV series 999 What’s Your Emergency? - a ‘warts and all’ documentary with camera crews trailing officers day and night; giving a real insight into the exciting and varied range of career opportunities policing offers.