A new Northamptonshire Police training centre has opened in Northampton and is an important investment in policing in the county that will support the drive to recruit hundreds more police officers. It replaces two small modular buildings in the driveway at Wootton Hall that were earmarked for replacement more than 10 years ago.
Giffard House
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold purchased the building last year and it has now been transformed into a modern and professional training facility that will enable the Force to deliver a range of training to new recruits and existing officers and staff.
Stephen said: “This is an investment in the future of the Force that will shape the next generation of Northamptonshire Police officers and ensure they have the skills and abilities they need to keep the county safe.”
The Commissioner used council tax funds to recruit 83 additional police officers, increasing total police officer numbers to around 1500 by March 2023.
Then the Government announced its National Uplift Programme: As part of the national uplift programme, the Force was allocated funding for 57 extra officers by March 2021 and is on track to meet this ahead of time. It is envisaged that the uplift programme will fund approximately an additional 191 new officers for the county by March 2023.
Between October 2019, when the national recruitment programme was announced, and July 2020, the Force has recruited 116 officers.
Paul Bullen, Director for Enabling Services at Northamptonshire Police, said: “Northamptonshire Police is the place to be at the moment – we have a fantastic Chief Constable who leads from the front, our performance in a number of areas is getting stronger and stronger, and we are real believers in the fact that proactive policing gets results.”
Stephen Mold added: “For me, it has always been crucial that Northamptonshire Police should reflect the community it serves and the Covid 19 pandemic has highlighted more than ever the critical role of our police and the trust we place in them. I am glad that this is inspiring people to consider a career as a police officer in Northamptonshire and that the Force is pressing on with bringing in new talent to make our community even safer.”
For more information on all our entry routes please visit the career pages of our website at www.northants.police.uk