Sign on the thin blue line: 2,300 at police recruitment day as force rebuilds trust after Occupy controversy
2,300 hopefuls turn up on new recruitment day as force continues its campaign to restore the public's backing after pro-democracy protests
The police have launched an aggressive drive to get the public back on their side with their first autumn recruitment day, which saw close to 2,300 turn up hoping to join the thin blue line.
Yesterday's effort forms part of a three-pronged approach launched last month to win back community support and boost recruitment alongside a new Facebook page and a pared-back physical fitness test that will be much easier to pass.
It all adds up to a concerted effort to shed the negative impact of last year's Occupy protests on the force's reputation after criticism over its handling of the pro-democracy movement.
Superintendent Yolanda Yu Hoi-kwan from the recruitment division of the personnel wing said the level of interest yesterday was "encouraging".
She noted that the attendance figure was up on the 2,100 who applied at the last event in July. With another recruitment day in January, it would be the first time the force had hosted four events in one financial year, she said.
"Four years ago, we had only one recruitment day but now we have four," Yu said.
