On an average day, Hertfordshire Constabulary receives more than 500 999 calls and over 1,000 101 non-emergency calls to its Force Communications Room (FCR) at police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City.
It take six weeks of intensive training to prepare new communications operators for this role.
Twelve new recruits have joined the busy team after completing their training.
The dozen new call handlers comprise nine women and three men from many different occupations including four ex-sales assistants, an airport control room operator, a freelance journalist, a sports therapist, hotel assistant, entrepreneur, teaching assistant, and an ex-police officer.
Friends and family attended their graduation ceremony on Friday, June 2 at police headquarters at Stanborough.
FCR Chief Inspector Steve Alison offered his congratulations to the 12 new communications handler recruits on passing their training programme.
He said: “It has been a fantastic achievement for all of you to be here and you should be proud of the many weeks of dedication and hard work you have given to your training.
“This graduation ceremony marks the start of what I’m sure will be an amazing career with us at Hertfordshire Constabulary.
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"I’m confident that the training you have received will allow you to meet the future challenges you are about to face, providing the first point of contact for people phoning our 999 emergency and 101 non-emergency calls who need our help and you will provide that initial contact and advice that helps keep people safe until our police officers arrive to help them.
“This is something that is immensely rewarding and is an opportunity for you all to have a big impact on peoples’ lives.”
How to join Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Force Communications Room
Hertfordshire police are currently recruiting for more communications operators, with applications short-listed on a weekly basis.
The Constabulary's call handlers work flexibly, including weekends, and evenings/nights, to answer emergency and non-emergency calls and direct resources across the county.
The starting salary is £29,331 inclusive of shift allowance, if you work full-time.
Find out more and apply, visit https://tri-force.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/mobile-0/appcentre-6/brand-5/xf-aa36029cb648/candidate/so/pm/6/pl/20/opp/10599-Communications-Operator-Herts-FCR/en-GB
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