SOARING property prices and low wages could be behind a drop in force recruitment numbers, Thames Valley Police revealed this week.
The authority's property committee met last Thursday at Kidlington police headquarters, in a bid to solve the crisis which has led to staff leaving the force.
Moves to tackle the problem include bidding for funding under the Government's Starter Homes Initiative which aims to house key workers, especially nurses, teachers and police.
The report identified South Buckinghamshire and Chiltern district council areas as among the most expensive housing areas where most staff are making demands for existing Police Authority accommodation.
It was recommended that £99,000 should be used to upgrade ten 'married' quarters across the Force area, with a further £515,000 needed to convert 13 houses into 'singles' quarters which would accommodate 34 officers.
A decision will be made at the Thames Valley Police Authority's next meeting on May 25.
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