Retired officers offer their support to Norfolk Police during coronavirus pandemic

Norfolk Police has said it has had "lots of response from retired officers" offering their support during the coronavirus pandemic.

The force added that it is "actively looking at all options" in terms of its contingency planning and will contact people in the future to confirm plans.

It comes after the Metropolitan Police Service announced last week that it was calling on retired officers to consider returning to serve again during the crisis.

Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has written to all former Met officers who retired within the last five years to ask them to rejoin in either a paid or voluntary capacity.

According to the BBC's Shared Data Unit, a total of 278 individual officers retired from Norfolk Police over a five-year period between 2014-15 and 2018-19.

This figure excludes those who resigned on medical grounds, died, were dismissed, resigned or transferred, and does not include staff or PCSOs.

Of the 278 officers who retired in that period, there were 173 constables, 63 sergeants, 23 inspectors, nine superintendents, six chief inspectors, three chief superintendents and one chief officer.

A Norfolk Constabulary spokesman said: “We are actively looking at all options. We’ve had lots of response from retired officers, offering support.

"The force have volunteers and we have a great history of people wanting to help.

"People are coming forward and the public would expect them to feature in all our contingency planning.

"We will be making contact with people in the near future to confirm local plans. ”