Ex-pat police move gets response

Officers said the £10,000 package represented good value

A campaign aimed at luring ex-pat police to Leicestershire has had results just a day after it was launched, senior officers have said.

Adverts have just appeared in Australia and New Zealand offering UK-trained officers up to £10,000 if they return to posts with the force.

Leicestershire Police are looking to recruit an extra 120 officers this year and identified ex-pats as a target.

There have already been nine enquires from good candidates, they said.

Ch Supt Geoff Feavyour said he was pleased with the response and there had even been some unexpected interest.

He said: "We have also had some interest some some Australian police asking how to get into the UK police.

"But that is not what the campaign is aiming at so we have had to say no."

Leicestershire Police chiefs have defended the £10,000 package, saying they believed it was "good value" to get highly-qualified officers.