Guernsey Police were forced this summer to take down their own promotion video from the internet after politicians said it didn’t reflect life on the island.

The short clip created a storm by showing armed officers storming a hostage situation, a huge explosion and car chase shot in the style of a Hollywood movie. Despite garnering rave reviews from social media users, it generated heat for the island’s police chief after two national newspapers – The Times and The Daily Mail – devoted coverage to it.

The clip went viral, generating viewing figures that the force could not have bought without busting budgets as some compared it to the hit British movie Hot Fuzz.

But the island’s politicians said the promotion video had made the island look like a war zone and the clip was quickly removed from the web.

The force has now revealed that following the campaign it received a record number of applications from people eager to join up and now 10 new recruits have begun training – the largest intake in years. 

Despite the global hit, Guernsey’s eager entrants are all well versed in the islands local customs and local ways having all grown up on the island.

Head of Law Enforcement Ruari Hardy was delighted to welcome them as they started their 17 weeks of training.

He said: “Ensuring we have local recruits and grow local talent is a key part of maintaining the service’s links with the community. This is the largest single intake for many years and the high number of applications shows the esteem the service is held and the desire of people within our Island to serve the community.

"I am also very pleased to see the diversity in terms of the recruit’s backgrounds and their previous life experience.”

Although confident they wouldn’t be taking on blockbuster missions, he didn’t rule out them becoming action heroes: “Despite the challenges, the range of opportunities and specialisms is extensive and we offer a career like no other within the Bailiwick.

"The organisation will invest in their training and I wish them all well as they embark on this exciting new chapter of their lives in serving the Bailiwick in keeping our Island safe.”