Three former chefs, two warehouse operatives, and a dental nurse are among Herts police's latest recruits. 

The newcomers have spent years working in other professions but now they’ve retrained and are the latest batch of student police officers about to hit the beat.

The cohort of 15 new officers also includes a former bartender, carpenter, hairdresser, landscape gardener, project manager, receptionist and welder.

They were welcomed to Hertfordshire Constabulary at a special ceremony at police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City on Monday, October 16.

For more information on becoming a police officer visit www.herts.police.uk/careers

With a recipe for success, the 13 men and two women completed their initial training to prepare them for their varied role and they will benefit from on-the-job experience, blended with classroom and practical learning on a two-year training programme.

Assistant Chief Constable Genna Telfer gave a congratulatory speech and presented certificates for the completion of their initial training, wishing them luck in their policing careers.

She said: “Your graduation today marks the start of what will become a life-changing role for you, you have all been successful in completing your initial stage of training and you will continue to learn as part of your on-going development.

Policing is about service and people, building trust and putting the public first. There won’t be a day when you don’t have an opportunity to make a difference to someone’s life, assisting those in the Hertfordshire communities we serve.”

The new recruits have joined via the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP), a traditional entry route for joining the police which provides an excellent opportunity for those who don’t have a degree to be employed as an officer from day one.

The officers now start their first postings, with four based in Stevenage, two in Broxbourne, two in Hemel Hempstead, two in St Albans, one in Hatfield, one in Hertford, one in North Herts, one in South Oxhey, and one in Watford.

New police officers receive a starting salary of £31,551, which includes a £3,000 regional allowance, working full-time (40 hours per week), with a contributory pension scheme and other benefits.