New recruits 'let down so badly' as Lincolnshire Police cancel upcoming intake
The chief constable of Lincolnshire Police has apologised after the force abruptly cancelled its upcoming intake of officers. Earlier this month, more than a dozen people were given the green light that they would become police constables on Monday, March 3, after completing the extensive recruitment process.
An email sent to candidates told them to hand in their notice to their employers in preparation for starting their new role with the force. However, these dreams were shattered on Wednesday, January 29, when the candidates were told that this year's entire intake has been called and there is no new date.
The decision has been made as the force faces a budget gap of £14m for the next year. The news comes as the force announced today that it needs to make "difficult decisions", including a reduction of police officer numbers by around 200 to 1,000, to be delivered by 2028/2029.
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Brendan O’Brien, a former police inspector and founder of Blue Light Consultancy, has helped thousands of people over the years in their goal of working for the police and offers a range of courses to help people with recruitment and once they are in the sector.
Mr O'Brien is outraged by what has happened to the candidates for the March intake and feels they have been "betrayed" by the force. He explained that this is "a group of people who have worked really hard to pass every stage of the police recruitment process, which can take up to a year", only to be told they can no longer join the force.
Some of the candidates have already handed in their notices into current employers and could be left without jobs, which will have an impact on their finances, families and homes. He stated: "I've already been messaged by so many people who have handed in their notice and are scrounging to their employers."
Mr O'Brien says it is "a terrible betrayal" by the force. He suspects around 20 to 30 people could have been impacted by this decision.
Lincolnshire Police has confirmed it has made the decision as a result of trying to balance a "budget gap", which stands at £14m for the next year. But Mr O'Brien claims other forces are having the same issues with finances, but have not promised people jobs and then taken them away.
Mr O'Brien added: "Every other force who has given people an offer has honoured it." He continued: "I've been doing this for 30 years and I have been in the police sector for 40 years, but I have never seen anything like this. Just to be let down like a ton of bricks, it's just awful for them, and someone needs to stand up for them."
Mr O'Brien explains that becoming a police officer is not like applying for any other job, it is an extensive process and you are essentially becoming a servant of the crown. He said: "If the King knew this was happening I think he would be furious.
"These are people that have committed to being servants of His Majesty who have been left down. These are people who are willing to put themselves in harms way and put themselves in danger when others are running away from it. They have been let down so badly, I really feel for them."
In a statement, Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Paul Gibson said: "Regrettably, we have had to cancel our intake of student officers in March this year and have informed those who were about to join us. We do not underestimate the impact this may have had on the lives of those who had this month received either a written or verbal offer and were about to start employment with us, and for that I apologise. This is not a decision we wanted to make but is one we have had to make - and at pace as we further explored finance options - because of the budget constraints imposed upon us and the impact this would have on our serving officers and staff where savings must be made.
“Following the announcement of the Government funding settlement for policing, which did not deliver the fair funding that Lincolnshire Police had hoped and lobbied for, the Force has now been able to finalise the budget gap it has to respond to – which stands at £14m for the next year. We have been working hard with Government and other policing stakeholders during the past days and weeks to improve the financial settlement, but at this stage there are no additional funds forthcoming. Throughout the years of challenging funding for the force, there has been an emphasis on maintaining services as far as is possible to keep the public safe. Continuing to recruit officers in 2025 was part of this ongoing commitment, but recent information has suggested that it is unlikely that further funding will be forthcoming, as in some previous years. Therefore, I had no choice but to cancel the next intake.
“As part of considerations, our student officer intake in March was discussed at length. We wanted to avoid affecting this group but were also keenly aware that individuals would need to know as soon as possible if their future employment with us would have to change. Sadly, this was a decision we have been unable to avoid making.
“We have taken this action because we will need to reduce our police officer model by around 200, to 1,000 officers, by 2028/2029 to respond to the Force’s financial challenges. We are also looking at a reduction in staff posts in 2025/26 and it is in this area where the most immediate impacts of redundancy will be felt, both by the people who work for Lincolnshire Police and the communities we serve.
“No definitive decisions have been made about the posts and areas of work that will be affected as modelling is continuing and we are exploring every opportunity where we can feasibly reduce risk to our communities within our means and deliver the very best service with the resources we have.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones said: "The financial challenge facing Lincolnshire Police in this and coming years are unprecedented.
"For many years our county force has been structurally underfunded – and while the gaps have been plugged with effective financial management and reserves that is no longer enough. The gap is simply too great.
"As a consequence the Chief Constable is facing incredibly tough choices about where services may have to be cut back or stopped entirely and how and where to deploy the reduced number of officers and staff.
"It is important the public understand the reality and the size and scope of the issues facing their police. Savings amounting to £14m this year alone rising to £20m in coming years must be found and that makes it impossible for the force to continue in its current form.
"I continue to try everything from lobbying to legal action to get this issue resolved with Government. I will never give up, our communities deserve that from me and we all deserve better from Westminster.
"However, budgets cannot be set on a wing and prayer so until the Government listens we have to create a service from the funding available. I have trust and confidence in the Chief Constable to do all that he can to keep our communities safe with the funding available."