MEMBERS of the public wanting to join the police have an opportunity to apply to be part of the latest recruitment drive.

West Yorkshire Police is aiming to recruit around 300 new police officers force-wide as well as taking on cover to fill naturally occurring vacancies.

Bradford’s new commander Chief Superintendent Scott Bissett said the Force was “looking to rebuild very visible neighbourhood policing, PCSOs and all that goes with it.”

“We are re-investing in the front-line, organisationally that is where the money is going. I see the potential to re-build neighbourhood policing, probably different to what it was before, but certainly to strengthen it from where it has been over the past couple of years. It will be different, but I want communities to have the confidence that we will act. People do want the police to be visible.” he said.

West Yorkshire Police’s Positive Action Co-Ordinator, PC Amjad Ditta will be holding workshops to offer advice and assist people with the application process.?

After the last recruitment window in September, there were a total of 1,240 applicants and out of those 26 per cent who applied were from diverse groups and backgrounds. A total of 376 recruits have already begun training with West Yorkshire Police between April and December 2016.?

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "I was pleased to be able to set a budget last year to enable the recruitment of hundreds more additional police officers, and once again open up the recruitment process to external candidates for the first time in many years in starting to help rebuild numbers and visibility.

"The New Year is classically a time for people looking for a new challenge or a change of career and being a police officer in West Yorkshire is a brilliant opportunity. I would encourage anyone interested to have a look at the fantastic resources on West Yorkshire Police's website, including PC Ditta’s leading coordination work."?

The recruitment window will be open until January 22 to allow all aspiring officers to send in their applications. For more information about how to apply, visit the West Yorkshire Police website where the application form will be available: www.westyorkshire.police.uk/joinus. Outside of the recruitment windows, those interested in applying to joining as a police officer can register their interest which means they will be notified when future recruitment windows open.