Staffordshire's police, fire and crime commissioner Ben Adams has revealed that there will be 300 more bobbies on the beat across Staffordshire over the next three years.

The figure represents a 20 per cent increase on current numbers, and will bring the force's total to almost 2,000 officers within the next 18 months.

Mr Adams acknowledged that this figure isn't as high as it has been previously, but said that crime was taking place differently now.

Over half of the 20,000 police officers promised nationally have now been recruited, and Staffordshire is ahead of its target as part of this.

Mr Adams said: "I'm really pleased that, in the country, we're leading the way in terms of female recruits as well."

Around 54 per cent of the most recent recruits are female officers.

"I think it's going to change the nature of the police service, you know.

"We're seeing some really capable young people, absolutely enthusiastic – and by the way there's no shortage of people wanting to get in on this recruitment programme."

Mr Adams added: "We're going to have people that are perhaps more comfortable – because they've grown up with it – in the digital world.

"So much of crime is involved – so much investigation now – so much exploitation and threat is online. I think they're ready and understand that.

"I think we'll see some real capable new additions, particularly in forensics and things of that nature.

"But all of them have an ambition to be out on the streets to be doing the job in every way that they can."

He said their training enables them to get a taste of all aspects of policing, taking up to two years before they're signed off to take on responsibilities independently.

He said he was encouraged that the service would be more rounded as a result of the fresh intake.

He also said that offices were focusing more on identifying crime early, and tackling issues such as online abuse and fraud.