The latest crop of recruits at Warwickshire Police have been unveiled at the force's Leek Wootton headquarters.

The force now has the largest number of officers in its more-than-160-year history, taking numbers well above pre-austerity figures.

Since 2016, the numbers of police officers in Warwickshire has grown from around 800 to just over the 1,100 mark, and the force will continue to recruit more officers.

More recruits have been funded by increasing the council tax police precept and funding from the government's national Police Uplift Programme.

The latest recruits - nine detective constables and eight police constables - were welcomed to the force last week by Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe, Chief Constable Debbie Tedds and DCC Alex Franklin-Smith.

When the commissioner was elected he promised to boost numbers pack to 1,100.

"Successful policing requires a mix of the right numbers of personnel doing the right things at the right time, responding to the concerns that matter most to the local community," he said.

"Since taking office, I have been determined to see police officer numbers grow and I am delighted that we have now hit the target I set out in my Police and Crime Plan to reach 1,100 officers.

"This has been a huge achievement and is among the largest – if not the largest – percentage increases in officer numbers seen by any force in England and Wales.

"Together with the new operational policing model the force is putting in place across the county in the coming months, the additional officers that are now coming on stream will help to make a noticeable difference to police visibility. 

"This is a key issue for many residents.

"I was delighted to meet the latest recruits to the Warwickshire Police family and impress upon them the vital and valued role they will play for local communities as they begin their policing career."