Worcestershire | Archive | 2002 | October | 31
From the archive, first published Thursday 31st Oct 2002.
TWENTY new jobs have been created by one of the region's biggest employers.
West Mercia Probation has taken on 20 trainee probation officers.
This is in addition to the 18 trainees taken on a year ago for the Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire area.
It now means West Mercia Probation employs 350 people across the three counties.
"Having 38 probation officers currently in training across the three counties is great news for the area," said David Chantler, chief officer.
"West Mercia Probation is really committed to developing new staff and is prepared to meet the challenges of the future with a well-qualified workforce."
He said the government had introduced a new form of probation officer training with a diploma in probation equivalent to a degree.
"Placement in service in the three counties operates alongside university studies and, with a growth in the criminal justice system, newly qualified probation officers can now be employed in drug action teams as well as crime and disorder posts."
He said by this time next year, West Mercia Probation would have increased its personnel by 30 per cent.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008