3000 new recruitments of trainee inspectors: By breaking through this mark, the NRW police force is presenting the strongest recruitment year in its own history - without lowering the requirements. This is because the consistently high quality represents an unshakeable standard.
"The figure of 3,000 is a promise: To the police and to the citizens of our country. The police have laid a foundation for future challenges with strong ranks of new recruits. And the citizens can count on everything being done for their safety today and tomorrow. I am delighted that we have reached our target of 3,000 trainee inspectors this year and that all the efforts have paid off," says NRW Minister of the Interior Herbert Reul."
Faster commitments and further adjustments lead to success
With the 2023 recruitment year, the NRW police force has now broken the 3,000 mark for the first time. This success was achieved through the development and implementation of a wide range of initiatives and strategies: even more tailored, appealing and authentic advertising measures, expanded target groups and faster commitments were just some of the adjustments that were made.
A new option has also been added for applicants who are under 1.63 m tall. They have been given the opportunity to take a minimum height test - developed in collaboration with the Cologne Sports University. This enabled applicants to provide proof that their shorter height does not pose a restriction for essential police duties.
High quality training remains a priority
The State Office for Training, Further Training and Personnel Matters (LAFP) of the NRW Police, the NRW University of Applied Sciences for Police and Public Administration (HSPV) and the recruitment and training authorities of the NRW Police have also pulled together to ensure a consistently high quality of training in the future.
"I am proud that we have overcome this challenge," says Christine Frücht, Director of the LAFP NRW. "It was only thanks to the commitment of our many colleagues that we were able to break through this sound barrier."
Rising recruitment figures under NRW Minister of the Interior Herbert Reul
As part of the coalition agreement between the CDU and Alliance 90/The Greens, a "Future Contract" was drawn up for North Rhine-Westphalia for the years 2022 to 2027. With regard to the state's internal security, this will continue to ensure a high-quality, well-trained, well-staffed and motivated police force.
A look at the development of recruitment figures makes this clear. 1891 (2015) and 1920 (2016) police officer candidates were recruited in the years before Herbert Reul took office as Minister of the Interior of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Since then, the recruitment figures have risen steadily.
2017: 2300 recruitments
2018: 2300 recruitments
2019: 2500 recruitments
2020: 2659 recruitments
2021: 2660 recruitments
2022: 2670 recruitments