New police for Tamworth, Armidale and Inverell join force at a 'hard time' to be a cop: Minister

The new recruits were among 263 new police sworn in as probationary constables on Thursday after graduating Goulburn police academy. The five new police will join Oxley Police District on Monday.

New England police district has also been allocated four new recruits, two in Armidale and two in Inverell from the Academy's class 340.

But the new graduates will have to wait for their traditional public passing-out parade.

The new recruits missed out on their attestation parade, with graduation being held in private due to the national COVID-19 lockdown.

They will have an opportunity to have a second, public celebration once coronavirus restrictions have lifted, said Minister for Police David Elliott.

He said it was "not an easy time to be a first responder" given the pandemic threat.

"Due to the current restrictions, these recruits have not had the send-off into their new careers that they deserve. I am working with Commissioner Fuller to ensure that all recruits attesting this year will be celebrated bigger than ever when it is safe to do so," he said.

The class, includes 177 men and 86 women. Five recruits are Indigenous Australians, and 31 were born overseas in countries including Afghanistan, Lebanon and the US.

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