Community officers will support regular police

More than 160 community support officers (CSOs) are being recruited across the East to help tackle anti-social behaviour.

The 162 officers will support local communities and other police officers across the region, adding to the 54 already in place.

Suffolk and Bedfordshire are to recruit CSOs for the first time.

Thames Valley are taking on eight officers, also for the first time.

Northamptonshire are not getting any more officers to add to the 12 existing CSOs in the county.

Focusing on low level crime, they will also help deal with problems such as anti-social and nuisance behaviour.

The Police Reform Act 2002 allows chief officers to give CSOs limited powers to deal with these problems.

This includes a power of detention for 30 minutes which is to be piloted in four areas for two years, including Northamptonshire.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, published on 27 March 2003, allows CSOs to issue fixed penalty notices for graffiti and fly-posting.

They will also be able to give fixed penalty notices to parents found in charge of truanting children.

It is hoped that the CSOs high level of visibility within the community will enable police officers to deal with more serious crime.

'Extending the police family'

The Home Secretary David Blunkett made the announcement as part of a national recruitment drive to boost police numbers.

Mr Blunkett said: "Police cannot win the fight against crime and nuisance behaviour alone.

"Extending the police family will strengthen links with communities to bring about real change in the way that we tackle local issues."