Wiltshire Police - Strength and Recruitment

Strength and Recruitment

Wiltshire Police employs 2,236 people and 350 volunteers. Of which 1346 are warranted Police Officers, 147 are Police Community Support Officers, 150 are Control Room Operators and Call Handlers, and 593 are civilian staff. Of the 350 volunteers, 80 are Police Support Volunteers and 270 are Special Constables.

Wiltshire Police currently is not recruiting Constables, PCSOs, transferred officers, civilian staff or control room operators due to budget cuts. They are only hiring for roles that need to be filled.

Wiltshire Police is recruiting people for voluntary roles. Their Police Support Volunteer scheme has doubled in size over the past year, they now have 80 PSVs. Their Special Constabulary has increased since 2009, with targets of recruiting a total of 300 'Specials' reached in early 2011.

Training for new recruits in Wiltshire is held at the Headquarters in Devizes. For Constables it consists of eight months' training and a two-year probationary period. For PCSOs it consists of 18 weeks' training and a 15-weeks probationary period. For Special Constables it consists of 7 months of training during weeknights and weekends, and a mandatory two-year probationary period.

Recruits receive their warrant card and uniform in the first two months of training. Once the training period is over, the new officers are posted in a local division.