Derbyshire Police jobs hotline swamped by 5,000 calls in an hour
Derbyshire Police were swamped with phone calls last night from thousands of people wanting to become officers.
The force is planning to recruit 60 new people and yesterday set up a special phone line to field calls from applicants.
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Within the first hour around 5,000 people had called up.
A team of 12 operators were on hand to deal with the calls but many people struggled to get through.
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The force’s head of human resources, Phil Mason, said: “I’m delighted that so many people want to join us in our mission to keep Derbyshire safe.
“I can understand the frustration that many will have felt last night when they failed to get through to speak to someone. We always knew there would be a great demand but we were surprised by just how many people were trying to ring us.”
The lines will be open again tonight and the force says extra staff have been brought in to improve the response.
Each call takes about 10 minutes to process as staff have to find out if the applicant is a suitable candidate. As a result only about 400 calls can be processed while the lines are open.
The special telephone hotline - 0300 122 5999 - will be open again between 4pm – 8pm tonight and during the same times tomorrow.
However when the 750 application packs have been allocated the lines will close and a message will be issued on the hotline and the website.
Potential applicants should not ring the non emergency number 101.
Comments
by angel316
Sunday, May 13 2012, 9:45AM
“I agree with your post about resilience, however when you didn't get through at all after 12 hours of trying, I am afraid resilience doesn't even come into it. What came in to it was the luck of dialing the number at the point at which someone hung up. I think people are spitting their dummies out because they never even got a chance! But then I suppose that will be the view of those that have been given the opportunities...”
by DaveNotts
Sunday, May 13 2012, 9:14AM
“I cant believe the maount of folk coming in here to moan about not getting through, resilience is a quailty the police look for, spitting dummies out when things dont go your way isnt, so perhaps it was fate”
by angel316
Saturday, May 12 2012, 8:52PM
“Another one here who was calling and son was calling. Shows how many young people really want work.”
by WillCroft3
Saturday, May 12 2012, 4:17PM
“I feel so sorry for people who have spent hours trying hoping to join the Police force, it just shows you how hard people are trying to obtain work in these difficult economic times.
What annoys me is when I read comments from these Tory Trolls that, the people who are on Job Seekers Allowance; are there because they Don't want work.
These trolls should be grateful that they have a job and not criticise people who are out of work and trying hard to find a job.
Lets all hope now with the new Labour city council that more employers will locate to Derby.
Bringing proper jobs not just part time ones.”
by Limbomanic
Saturday, May 12 2012, 3:52PM
“E=MC/2
More on the aptitude test,they didn't ask you lot to go and get a plumb bob by any chance,maybe download a application form or even get arrested then pick the paperwork up at the station, you've got to show a bit of gumption.
lmao
L.W.F”
by Achickenfish
Saturday, May 12 2012, 12:15PM
“The whole system was a shambles. I too spent 12 hours calling the line over the three day period to be greeted with nothing but that engaged tone! To which i never want to hear again now. Myself and my parents (who kindly agreed to help call) must have made over 5000 calls between us. It would have been far better and fairer if there had been a que system or a online form to help whittle the number of eligible people down, as already suggested. Alot of disappointed people out there and i dare say Derbyshire Police will have missed out on people who would have made fine officers.”
by neil2k
Saturday, May 12 2012, 12:17AM
“My son called non-stop Wednesday, and Thursday for 4 hours each day. Today, Friday, he called until the lines closed at about 7.15. We have calculated that using 2 phones he was able to make at least 6 calls per minute that makes 4050. Plus the 500 calls I made on his behalf this gives a total of no less than 4500 calls, and we still were unable to get through. This application process is a joke and has wasted a lot of people's time. Why was there not a queuing system of even an online filtering questionnaire? I think this mess has made the Derbyshire Constabulary look incompetent.”
by Ksdhindsa79
Friday, May 11 2012, 9:59PM
“This whole process has been a PR and HR disaster for the Derbyshire Police Force. All you have managed to do is alienate hundreds/thousands of people against you. This is a great shame because it has done a great disservice to all the fine officers in your ranks. I'm so annoyed at the way this has been carried out and i feel so sorry for all the people whose hopes and dreams have been dashed.
Utter shambles.”
by Ksdhindsa79
Friday, May 11 2012, 9:58PM
“This whole process has been a PR and HR disaster for the Derbyshire Police Force. All you have managed to do is alienate hundreds/thousands of people against you. This is a great shame because it has done a great disservice to all the fine officers in your ranks. I'm so annoyed at the way this has been carried out and i feel so sorry for all the people whose hopes and dreams have been dashed.
Utter shambles.”
by asctty
Friday, May 11 2012, 7:41PM
“Contact David Gale UKIP - He is looking for a Police job too so should be able to help.”