PFCC welcomes 69 new officers to Essex Police at Passing Out Parade
PFCC Roger Hirst has welcomed another 69 new recruits into Essex Police, making the force bigger and stronger than ever before.
The students, who have completed 22 weeks at Essex Police College, proudly wore their uniforms and marched in front of their loved ones and invited dignitaries at their Passing Out Parade at Essex Police Headquarters.
Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington, Lord Lieutenant for Essex Jennifer Tollhurst and High Sheriff for Essex Julie Fosh congratulated the men and women as they read their attestations.
Mr Hirst welcomed the new recruits and their families and said: “It gladdens my heart to see new recruits in this number. I never go to a meeting where people want less of you; they want more. They like what you do and they understand what you do to keep them safe.
“You are stepping forward at what is an interesting time. There are very clear community tensions across the country, not just in Essex. In Epping and Southend, we have seen stress and people finding it difficult. There is a real element here where it is for you to keep the peace.
“You are members of the public, you serve the public and keep the public safe. If you use the training you have just had, use the insight you have just been given and use your own common sense and act with good faith and be who you are, you will get it right.
“It is a very special thing you are doing. You are in a position to make sure this county is kept as safe as possible. I can tell you on behalf of the public that they really value it. It is an amazing and rewarding job.
“This is a really, really good police force. Essex Police is really innovative, forward-thinking and really effective. That matters.”
Essex Police is now bigger and stronger than ever before, with 905 officers recruited since 2016 taking the total to 3,755.
A team of 74 extra officers joined newly launched Neighbourhood Policing Teams in early 2025 as part of the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.
The new officers and their families heard how all crime has gone down by 5.2 per cent in the last 12 months to the end of July, while antisocial behaviour has also reduced by 1.4 per cent in the same period.