STARTING today 100 new recruits to Greater Manchester Police will spend a week officially being introduced to their future communities.

The Engagement Week will provide the recruits with the chance to meet with a number of community and faith groups, as well as learn more about their borough’s policing priorities.

More than 90 per cent of the new recruits are made up from civilian applicants who after a two-year probation period, which includes classroom-based learning and a year on active patrol, will become fully fledged police officers.

During their training they will have the same of level of authority as regular officers, including the power of arrest.

Chief constable Ian Hopkins said: “The Engagement Week provides a fantastic opportunity for our future frontline officers to go out and meet the communities where they will be working.

“It is extremely important that as well as learning from our experienced officers about their neighbourhoods, the new recruits are introduced to the diverse range of communities that make up Greater Manchester.

“By being open and speaking directly with our communities, our officers can learn first-hand what concerns local people may have.

“Greater Manchester Police continues to be fully committed to both keeping the public safe through effective policing and to be a service that reflects the communities we serve.

“In this intake alone more than a third of the recruits are from black and minority ethnic communities and Greater Manchester Police welcomes and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply for frontline roles during our recruitment drives throughout the year.”

Five hundred new recruits are expected to join GMP this financial year alone, which will maintain the number of frontline officers at its current level.