Since the beginning of September, Warwickshire Police has welcomed more than 40 new starters and now has the highest number of officers in its history.

This includes 20 students on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) course, 22 from the latest Detective Constable Degree Holder Entry Programme (DCDHEP), plus seven new PCSOs. 

From service industry workers to ex-military, they all have a variety of backgrounds, cultures and bring with them a "wealth of different experiences".

The force also said it is "delighted to see two former cadets among the new recruits".  

"As a force, we're aiming to build a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve, and our new officers will draw on their skills to help police the communities of Warwickshire," a statement said.

"As well as the new recruits, the end of this month will also see our latest Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) pass out – when, if successful in their final assessment, they'll join our existing officers on area. 

"And once our newest recruits have completed their training programmes, we'll be able to add to our specialist teams across Protective Services as well as boosting the number of patrol officers – meaning more officers on the streets. "

In recent years, there has been a massive 45 per cent increase in the number of officers.

At the end of March last year, Warwickshire Police had more than 1,000 officers - up from around 800 in 2016.

"However, we've continued to build on this figure, and now have a total of 1,161 officers representing Warwickshire – the highest recorded number in the force's 160-year plus history," the statement added.