MORE than 1,100 people have applied for about 60 potential police officer jobs with North Yorkshire Police.

Since the police constable positions – which will replace officers moving to other forces or retiring – were advertised on April 24, the force has been inundated with applications.

Police and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan said she was delighted by the response to the recruitment drive, which finished on Thursday.

She said: “We had anticipated we would get a good number of responses. Other forces to have advertised police officer jobs had a similar response.

“I’m sure we will have some high-calibre candidates. I know we have some Special Constables and PCSOs applying, there are people from all walks of life.

“We want to thank everybody who has put their name forward. Not everybody will be successful but there will be future opportunities I’m sure.”

“We are looking forward to getting these officers out on the beat.”

The applications will be considered over the next few weeks.

The recruitment campaign aims to fill approximately 60 vacancies between now and the end of 2014 to ensure officers numbers in North Yorkshire remain stable.