Lincolnshire Police is hiring up to 100 new officers in its first big recruitment drive in three-and-a-half years.
Force numbers are at a ten-year low with 1,106 officers making up the thinnest blue line since a peak in 2004 of 1,259.
Numbers dipped below 1,200 for the first time last year.
Assistant chief constable Keith Smy said the fall was “part of a planned and managed response to the reduction in funding from central government grant over the last few years”.
He continued: “By reorganising how and where officers work, we have been able to ensure that our neighbourhood policing approach has been sustained and the front-line impact minimised.
“With the support of the public, partner organisations and the continuing hard work of officers and staff we have, so far, managed to cope with this reduction of officers and still reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
“I think that is a remarkable achievement and one I am very proud of.”
County councillor Chris Brewis welcomed the recruitment campaign, saying: “It’s very good news because the blue line is very thin and we already know we are only just above the minimum number of officers that we need.”
He said the county council pays £1.5million towards an additional 59 PCSOs for Lincolnshire because they are “extremely good value for money”.
n People interested in joining can only pick up an applications at one of four recruitment events – places must first be booked at www.lincs.police.uk
Events will be held at Stoke Rochford Hall, near Grantham, at 2pm on August 22; Kenwick Park Hotel, Louth, at 6.30pm on August 28; Bishop Grossteste University, Lincoln, at 9.30am on August 29 and Fenside Community Centre, Boston, at 1pm on September 3.