South Yorkshire Police is calling upon retired officers and staff to
return to work to bolster numbers and add extra resilience during the
Covid-19 pandemic.
The force is opening up a broad range of opportunities to former
employees to help SYP continue to offer the best service possible to its
communities during the outbreak.
Retired officers and staff, and those on a career break, are being
invited to consider returning for a temporary period so the force, and
the public, can benefit from their exceptional knowledge and experience.
Part-time and voluntary applicants would also be welcomed.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson said: “We are currently living in
exceptional times: there has not been a period in recent history when
the contribution of our emergency services has been so critical for
communities across South Yorkshire and the rest of the country.
“We are well prepared and equipped to deal with this pandemic. Our
officers will remain on the front line and we will be here for the
people in South Yorkshire who need us. In these unprecedented times,
however, we are also calling upon those who have left us to consider
returning to duties to provide a tremendous public service. The
skillsets of these former colleagues will be invaluable as we get on
with the job in front of us.”
The call comes after the Home Office announced a support package to help
boost police numbers amid the Covid-19 pandemic. This included a
commitment to relax complex tax and pension rules, which may have been
deterring some retired police officers from going back into service.
South Yorkshire Police is awaiting more detailed information from the
government about the changes to these rules – but in the meantime is
encouraging all retired officers and staff, and those on career breaks,
to register their interest in a potential return, even if they have only
left recently.
The force welcomes all expressions of interest, particularly from
retired police officers; investigative officers or police officers
currently on a career break; and retired Atlas Court staff with
experience in the Contact Resolution Unit, Force Crime Bureau and
switchboard.
South Yorkshire Police already runs a Police Officer Returner Scheme for
former constables, sergeants and inspectors. You can find out more about
this here. It is hoped some of the existing rules and stipulations
around this scheme will be relaxed as part of the Home Office support
package.
Letters are being sent out directly to officers and staff who have
retired within the last two years, and those on a career break. To find
out more and register an interest in helping support our South Yorkshire
communities through these times, please email
returners@southyorks.pnn.police.uk.
Watch Chief Constable Stephen Watson’s video message about the
opportunities here.