New recruits of officers and staffing since November 2020
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.21.022213
I note you seek access to the following information:
1) Is the Metropolitan Police Service currently recruiting constables?
2) How many new Police Constables have been recruited since 01/11/2020?
3) Of that number of new recruits how many have left the MPS to date?
4) What is the current rate at which officers of the rank of constable are leaving the MPS?
5) How many officers is the MPS currently short of?
6) What is the current policy for Extension of Service (EoS) beyond Compulsory Retirement Age?
7) What are the critical skills needed for an EoS?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - Is the Metropolitan Police Service currently recruiting constables?
Yes. As of 17 December 2021.
Q2 - How many new Police Constables have been recruited since 01/11/2020?
Between November 2020 and November 2021 the Met has recruited 1,905 Volume Police Constables.
Q3 - Of that number of new recruits how many have left the MPS to date?
Of the 1,905 recruited 59 have now left the Met.
Q4 - What is the current rate at which officers of the rank of constable are leaving the MPS?
The current overall Attrition Rate for all Police Constables is 4.5%.
Q5 - How many officers is the MPS currently short of?
The MPS is in a period of growth and is in the second year of the Government’s Policing Uplift Programme, which has a target to increase officer numbers by 20,000 in the three years to March 2022. By March 2022 the MPS will have achieved its growth target for the first two years of the Programme (c. 2700 officers).
Q6 - What is the current policy for Extension of Service (EoS) beyond Compulsory Retirement Age?
Requests for Extensions of Service beyond Compulsory Retirement Age (CRA) are being granted, provided the applications meet a number of criteria. They include:
• An assessment of skills, performance, experience and medical abilities
• Role related risk assessment
• Discipline and attendance records
• A suitable role being identified
• Suitability of further service based on operational effectiveness
• Financial viability of retention
• Workforce requirements such as current strength against design at each rank
Officers are contacted by SSCL (Shared Support Services Connected Limited) 13 months before their CRA and asked if they wish to apply for an extension. The process is multi-layered and requires a number of activities to take place in order for an extension of service request to be considered. This includes a medical assessment and the requirement for an application to be supported by the B/OCU Commander. Succession plans will already have been made based on the assumption that a certain number of officers will retire on their given CRAs, and therefore all extension of service requests are considered centrally by the MPS. Each application is considered individually against the criteria listed above and officers have the right to appeal against the decision if they wish.
Q7 - What are the critical skills needed for an EoS?
As noted above there is a number of criteria by which each application is assessed. These criteria will be reviewed every 6 months and includes an assessment of skills. Each application is considered individually and there is an expectation that the individual uses these skills in the role they are posted. Considerations in this assessment may include:
• Where there will be a significant business continuity impact.
• Where there are skills/experience relevant to a corporate change programme and the loss or failure to secure these skills would risk the change implementation.
• Unusual or niche skills or experience which cannot be easily replaced/obtained or will take a significant period of time to replace/obtain.
• Driving skills – Response & Advanced drivers and Driving Instructors.
• Public Protections skills – Detective Constables experienced in rape and child abuse investigations, CAIT & SOIT skills.