From rebel to police's public face: Geldof joins recruitment drive

Bob Geldof is to be the new face of the Government's police recruitment campaigns and will appear in television advertisements designed to alleviate the shortage of officers on the beat.

The former Boomtown Rats lead singer has been signed by David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, to encourage people to join up. The campaign will be screened from tomorrow.

Mr Geldof said he had been persuaded to join by positive contacts with police. One example is believed to have been when he was having family difficulties with his former wife, Paula Yates. "I've found them to be hugely compassionate and understanding. A couple of them have just put their arm around me and said, 'If you need help, give us a call'. So that's largely why I'm doing this to be honest ­ because I remember those instances."

He features in a scenario of a child separated from its parents because of suspected child abuse. "Separating a child from its parents has to be one of the most devastating things," he tells viewers.

Mr Geldof said: "Being a police officer and having to make a personal decision, which may disrupt that family for ever or certainly upset the child for ever, is to take on board a huge responsibility and one that the average person would think twice, thrice and more times about. You would have to be, on the one hand, utterly dispassionate about what you were viewing and ... deeply compassionate about the outcome if you happened to make the wrong decision."

Mr Blunkett said: "Bob Geldof has a reputation for speaking out on issues that really matter to people. His decision to support the police service shows the high regard in which our policemen and women are held."