Police numbers are rising as new graduated officers will be recruited across the county.

Fifteen new officers have joined the Constabulary on June 20 (Wednesday) at a graduation ceremony at Police Headquarters in Welwyn Garden City.

The new recruits will be sent to areas across Hertfordshire. Watford and Broxbourne will each have three new officers, and St Albans, East Herts or Hertsmere will each have two.

The number of police is increasing towards the highest in seven years. Earlier this year, Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd increased the council tax policing precept by an average of £24 a year to fund an extra 75 front line officers.

The additional officers will hopefully help boost the numbers over 2,000 for the first time since 2011.

At the ceremony Mr Lloyd said: “There are three groups that I want to say thank you to today. The first is the council taxpayer who has given an extra £24 a year on average that I asked for to pay for more officers, and you are some of the officers from that investment.

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

“Secondly are the family and friends of these new officers, they are undertaking a really difficult job and will need your support.

“Then of course the graduating officers themselves. You in many ways you are giving up your lives for the next twenty five to thirty years to a higher calling. It is a great privilege for you to serve the public in their hour of need.”

Officers who have graduated and will be sent to the following areas are:

  • Watford – PC Michael Gallagher, PC Graeme Miller and PC Christopher Thorn
  • Broxbourne – PC Ross Brown, PC Laura Bryan and DC Paul Dicker
  • St Albans – PC Amy Nugent and PC Lauren Robinson
  • East Herts – PC Robin Knight and PC Rachael Gunn
  • Hertsmere – PC Connor Eggenton and PC Daniel Hill
  • Dacorum – PC Debbie Graham
  • Three Rivers – PC Michael Branson
  • Welwyn Hatfield – PC David Lewinton