POLICE in North Yorkshire are launching a recruitment campaign to strengthen their numbers.

It will begin on February 8 with the opening of a recruitment hotline number to dial - 01609 789213.

Open for a maximum five days between the hours of 5pm and 8pm it will be the first step for anybody wanting to apply for a role as a police officer of the future.

Potential recruits will be asked a series of questions to ensure that they are eligible and those who successfully progress through this initial sift will be then sent an application pack which is the next step of the recruitment process.

And because of the expected high levels of interest, once 1,000 application packs have been issued, the recruitment hotline will close.

Deputy Chief Constable Adam Briggs said: "Due to the thorough planning work that North Yorkshire Police has already undertaken, which has both increased the number of frontline officers and given the force a secure financial position for the future, we are now in a strong position to take on even more officers.

"These officers will boost the numbers already working on the frontline Safer Neighbourhood Teams across North Yorkshire and the city of York.

"This will further increase our capability to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, and instil confidence in the service we deliver."

This campaign, which builds on a similar recruitment drive last year, will see up to 60 new officers join those already serving the communities across the force area and maintain the total number of officers in the force at 1,500.