Over a third of Brighton adults wanted to join the police as a child, a recent survey has found.

The survey found that around 37 per cent of adults asked wanted to join the force when they were younger.

Other popular childhood dream jobs for the region included one in five people wanting to be a teacher and around 15 per cent wanting to be a pilot or a firefighter.

Alice Stapleton, a career coach who specialises in working with people in their 20s and 30s, said: “The last few years have proved to be a time of considerable personal growth for many. People’s values and motivations have changed since the pandemic, so it’s no surprise that so many people, especially in the early working life of their 20s and 30s, are considering a career change.

“It’s been my experience and a recurring theme that an increased number of individuals are seeking to move into more meaningful and purposeful work. Sometimes this is also going back to basics, to think about the kinds of jobs they could see themselves doing, but don’t know how to make these career dreams a reality.

“As more people seek work that better matches the values that now drive them, it’s clear to see why many would consider joining the police. It’s a role that ticks the boxes of positive rewards and the opportunity to make a difference, that people are searching for.”

The survey is being conducted as part of a campaign to encourage more people to consider joining the police force.

A quarter of working adults in Brighton said that they did not pursue their dream job while 35 per cent said that they regretted not doing so. The research also showed that around two fifths of working adults in Brighton were considering a career change in the next 12 months.

The government have said that they want to hire 20,000 new police officers by March 2023 through their Be the Difference campaign.

Information on joining the police force can be found at joiningthepolice.co.uk.