An extra 169 police officers have been recruited in Cumbria as the force celebrates achieving a national target.
The Home Office set Cumbria Constabulary a target of recruiting an additional 169 police officers in less than four years as part of the Police Uplift Programme.
The target was on top of anticipated recruitment levels, which ordinarily cater for retirements and those leaving for other reasons.
Achieving this means Cumbria now has more police officers than the force had in its history, with a current head count of 1,391 officers.
Chief Constable Michelle Skeer said: “It is great news for the force and the people of Cumbria that we have hit our uplift target.
“These extra officers are already out there each day making positive contributions in our communities and keeping people safe.
“I regularly see and hear about the great work that our new officers are doing, which supports the efforts of experienced officers and staff across the county in providing an outstanding policing service to the people we serve.
“I’d like to thank all those across our police force who have worked incredibly hard as part of our recruitment drive, which has paid off and resulted in us achieving our uplift target.”
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall said: “Every additional officer really makes a difference and allows us to continue to tackle crime here in the county.
“I am keen that the public feel the effect of the additional officers, obviously the more resource the police have the more they can do to keep our communities safe.
“I would like to congratulate each recruit for stepping up to serve, what they have achieved so far, and I am sure they will all have a thriving career within Cumbria Constabulary.
The officers who have joined as part of the Uplift programme have done so through a number of entry routes including the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP), Professional Policing Degree, the Detective Pathway Programme, Transfers and the Initial Police Learning Development Programme (IPLDP) pathway.
