Officers trying to recruit outside Northampton Central Mosque
Northamptonshire Police has launched a campaign to recruit more officers from ethnic minorities.
The recruitment drive started with officers meeting Muslims attending prayers at Northampton Central Mosque.
Those behind the drive said they wanted the force to represent the county.
Currently four per cent of officers describe themselves as being black or minority ethnic, while eight per cent of residents say they are of an ethnic minority background.
Inspector Inam Khan, the force's equality and diversity officer, said: "Northamptonshire Police has a strong commitment to equality and in order to effectively tackle crime and bring offenders to justice, we must reflect, understand and enjoy the trust and confidence of all the communities we serve.
"So we want to recruit the best talent from the widest pool of people possible, that's why we're actively encouraging people from all backgrounds to consider applying to become a police officer in Northamptonshire."
Northamptonshire Police is one of few forces across the country currently recruiting police officers and is aiming to fill an intake in September 2016.
A force spokesperson said the new recruits would be hired from existing budgets and would replace officers who were retiring from the force - maintaining the number of officers in the force at 1,220.
- Published4 September 2012
