YOUNG people who want to serve their community might be interested to learn that West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police have opened an external recruitment campaign for student police officers.

The police forces expect 140 student police officers to join through current recruitment activity.

Richard Elkin, director of enabling services for Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police said: “We are recruiting to ensure that we maintain the numbers of officers agreed in our policing model so that we can continue to provide our communities with the best possible protection from harm.

"We look forward to welcoming new student police officers into both forces through this recruitment campaign.”

Anyone aged 18 – 57 may apply to become a student police officer if they meet the eligibility criteria and applicants are required to complete an online self-assessment exercise before they request an application pack.

The recruitment drive coincides with the launch of the College of Policing’s new accelerated Fast Track promotion and development programme - a national initiative designed to identify and equip the most talented graduates with the skills, knowledge and experience to advance to the rank of inspector.

Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police are seeking to select three dedicated and talented individuals across both forces to join the programme, which starts in September 2014.

It is open to external applicants as well as police staff and members of the Special Constabulary.

For more information on joining either police force visit warwickshire.police.uk/careers/becomeanofficer or westmercia.police.uk/join-as-a-police-officer.html.

For details on the Fast Track programme log on to college.police.uk/en/21592.htm

The closing date for applications is Friday, May 16.