Home Secretary Priti Patel congratulates new Herts police recruits

Home Secretary Priti Patel surprised Hertfordshire Constabulary's newest officers when she attended their passing out parade.

The Conservative MP for Witham in Essex joined family and friends of the 18 students celebrating the end of their initial training at police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City.

Chief Constable Charlie Hall officially welcomed them to the force and presented the recruits with framed certificates.

The group of 14 men and four women already had plenty of police know-how, with 10 former police community support officers, three former emergency call handlers and a number of former special constables among them.

"It is always a great pleasure to welcome new police officers into the Hertfordshire police family," said Mr Hall.

"You can see the pride in the faces of their parents, family and friends in the audience. Pride at what they have already achieved by becoming a police officer and pride in what they will achieve during their long and rewarding policing careers.

"The desire they have to now get out into our communities and make a real positive difference to people is tangible."