AN officer who has spent the past three years working as a Special Constable in Thurrock is returning to the borough as a newly qualified officer, one of 62 who recently completed their training with Essex Police and formally passed out at a ceremony at the county force's HQ in Chelmsford.

PC Bilal Ahmed has joined the Grays Local Policing Team and says passing out was '100% a proud moment' because he's always aspired to be a police officer.

"I joined the Special Constabulary when I was 19 and, for the past three years, I've been serving in Grays. I started seeing the impact that being a police officer had on people so I decided I wanted to do it full-time," said PC Ahmed.

"I can't wait to help and support the community in Grays and beyond.

"You can do this job regardless of your race and background. I'm Asian and my passing out shows that you can do it. You have to believe in yourself and just take the leap."

Family and friends watched on at the ceremony.

The last batch of recuits is another stage in a process to up the number of officer across the county and it is planned that by March next year there will be 3,755 serving officers. That's 200 more than at the end of March this year and 900 more than in 2016.

The force will also be recruiting an extra 72 members of police staff to support them.

The latest recruits passed out in front of Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington and guests including Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst, University of Essex vice-chancellor Professor Anthony Forster and the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani.

CC Harrington told the  new officers: "You have put yourself forward to protect and serve, just as I did 32 years ago. You have put yourself forward to catch criminals, to protect people and to keep people safe. In doing this, you have placed the needs of others before your own.

"I know that you will work hard to earn and maintain the bond of trust between our force and the people we serve.

"Eight out of ten people in Essex have high levels of trust in us and I know that is something you will never take for granted.

"Recently, our professionalism has taken centre stage in the national news, with our hard work during the fuel protests in Thurrock. We kept people safe, we dealt with criminal behaviour that risked life and property and we kept Essex moving, all under intense scrutiny – rightly – from local people, businesses, elected representatives and the media.

"We've provided a first-class response to an issue that has national impact.

Officers march at the Pass Out Parade.

"In the last fortnight, your colleagues have been praised by a victim of domestic abuse whose attacker is now serving 20 months for assaulting her.

"In another case, they have seen a man jailed for an unprovoked attack which left his victim with life-threatening injuries. The attacker pleaded guilty because officers responded quickly, secured the evidence and built a strong case.

"They have been thanked by farmers for catching hare coursers who cause so much damage to valuable crops and so much harm to wildlife.

"And they have shut down fraudsters who stole from hundreds of victims in a £13million property scam. Five people have been brought to justice and will be sentenced this summer."

Mr Harrington reminded them that officers police with consent. "If people trust us, they feel safer. If they trust us they call us and give us information and intelligence.

"You now share the responsibility to maintain this trust, to carry it forward on behalf of those who served before and hand it on, intact, to those who follow after.

"At a time of so much uncertainty at home and overseas, you will be a reassuring and constant presence in our villages, towns and cities."

The force continues to seek new recruits and if you would like to find out more visit this link: https://www.essex.police.uk/police-forces/essex-police/areas/essex-police/ca/careers/police-officers/police-constable