HOME Secretary Priti Patel recenlty attended the passing out parade for 48 new Essex Police officers who have completed their initial training at force headquarters in Chelmsford.

They were welcomed to the Essex Police family at the COVID-Secure event by Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills, Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst and other chief officers and senior officers.

The event marks the successful completion of initial training with another cohort of new officers joining Essex Police.

A force spokesperson said: "This will provide visible reassurance to the people of Essex as officers join their new teams around the county and the event was live-streamed so family and friends could share the moment online.

"The officers of 'R' intake started their training in June and have spent the past 20 weeks at Essex Police College training and preparing for their new lives as police constables protecting and serving Essex. Now they will be deployed to teams across the county to help keep our communities safe from harm."

After they pledged their commitment to serve Essex residents, Mr Harrington told them they were joining policing at a challenging time.

He said: "At times of challenge, the public will look to our leaders and they will also look to you to help them and keep them safe. We are leading the response across greater Essex, working with partners to protect and serve Essex at a time when people, and especially the vulnerable, are anxious, unsure and sometimes scared.

"That is why it has never been more important for policing and for you to think about the core principles of your role: help people, keep them safe and catch criminals.

"The people of Essex rely on us to do this. We, the police, with our partners in law enforcement are the people who have the duty and responsibility to catch these people and bring them to justice.

"And we do it well. We've seen a reduction in recorded crime over the last year, with 9,286 fewer offences recorded and, importantly, fewer victims of crime between September 2019 and September 2020, compared to the year before."

Since the Home Secretary last visited the force in September 2019, the force has continued to grow with more essential police staff and officers. In fact, by March 2021 we will have grown by a further 151 officers; 135 from the police uplift programme and 16 from efficiencies we have made with the support of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. Since 2018, the force has grown by more than 500 officers and all of this helps us to keep our communities safe.

Essex Police says it is attracting more people from diverse backgrounds through its #FitTheBill We Value Difference campaign. Applications overall have increased, with 357 applications in the first four weeks of this year's campaign, which began on 15 September. This is a big increase from the 273 applications received in the first four weeks of September 2019 at the start of last year's force recruitment campaign.

In September 2020, applications from black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates leapt to 15% of the total – 54 compared with 19 in September 2019.

And the force says it is attracting more women to its ranks. In September 2020, 33% of applications to join the force were from women.

You can find out more here.