Met Police is hiring a Dad’s Army of retired cops to help tackle spiralling knife crime and murder rates
BRITAIN’S biggest police force is hiring a Dad’s Army of retired cops to swell its ranks.
The Met Police’s veterans will help tackle the capital’s rocketing knife crime and murder rates.
Commissioner Cressida Dick, who revealed the scheme yesterday, said 1,500 officers who left in the last two years will be welcomed back.
They will get the same rank and salary they had before retiring.
Another 1,000 cops due to retire in the next three months will be offered the option to return after a month’s break.
Ms Dick unveiled her plan at the annual Superintendents’ Association conference in Leicester.
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She said low unemployment means “it is undoubtedly getting harder to find the right people” and that she is “concerned about expertise leaving”.
Under the scheme, those who have yet to leave will be able to take six-figure lump sums from their pension pots before returning.
But retired cops will not be able to draw any more income from pensions.
The Met has shelled out more than £200million in six years to Reed recruitment agency to hire retired officers as civilian workers.
Dick fury over pay rise snub
MET Police chief Cressida Dick has accused the Government of giving cops a “punch on the nose” over pay.
She blasted the Home Office for ignoring the findings of an independent pay review board.
The Police Remuneration Review Body called for a three per cent rise but in July this year the Home Office gave just a two per cent hike.
Ms Dick told the Police Superintendents’ Association conference: “It feels like a punch on the nose.”
Meanwhile Home Secretary Sajid Javid slated the demand by police chiefs for new cops to have degrees.
He told the conference: “Police should be striving to represent the community they serve.”
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