A recruitment drive by Lincolnshire Police to fill an estimated 150 vacancies over the next 12 to 18 months led to more than 2,000 requests for application forms - in just two hours after its launch.

“It feels really good. We expected 1,500 requests over five days,” senior recruitment officer David Freeman told Recruiter.

He explained that the recruitment drive is intended to create a talent pool from which to recruit replacements for the estimated 60 to 70 police officers who leave the force each year. He added: “We’ve yet to get confirmation about any growth [for new officers] at this time.”

Entry-level police constables earn a starting salary of £22,680, increasing to £25,317 after 33 weeks. Lincolnshire Police is one of the county’s largest employers.