Merseyside will begin recruiting on Monday for its uplift quota of 200 officers and has brought forward its quota of 300 new recruits from next year.

The force told Police Oracle it will have no trouble meeting its target of 500 new officers because its ratings by HM Inspectorate has made it a top target for ambitious young people who want a career in the police and transferees from other forces.

It attracted 42 transferees in November 2019 and is due to take a further 20 transferees on 4 March.

The force has been praised for four years in a row for tackling serious and organised crime. It was singled out by HM Inspectorate for its performance in the latest PEEL inspections earlier this month for investing in technology, keeping vulnerable people safe and management of its investigations.

The transfer requests mean the force is able to save on recruitment fees meaning its £23m government Uplift grant can go further.

That funding will increase further after Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy and Chief Constable Andy Cooke decided to raise the police precept by £10 a year on a Band D property. It brings the force’s budget for 2020/21 to £359m.

The 500 extra recruits will mean there are nearly 4,000 officers on duty by March 2021.

Re-starting work to prevent young people being drawn into crime is one of the agreed priorities – but Ms Kennedy warned the force will still have to make savings in other areas.

PCC Jane Kennedy said: “This will enable the Chief Constable to put extra officers into every area of Merseyside. It will also enable him to re-start much of the vital crime prevention initiatives that were gradually eroded by years of cuts, including putting officers back into our schools to work with young people and deter them from getting involved in crime.

“I am delighted that I can reward local people’s support and generosity by now confirming we will be able to get those extra officers into training in the next 12 months. While there are still challenges ahead, with savings still earmarked for the next four years, this is a very big step forward in the recovery of Merseyside Police and I hope more will follow in the years to come.”