New community police officers began a rigorous training programme on Monday to equip them with essential skills for helping fight crime on London's streets.

The civilian recruits will perform different support roles, including security patrols and the first teams will be deployed on the capital's streets by the end of September.

Initially they will only have the powers of a private citizen but the Police Reform Act will provide them with extra powers to assist Met police officers.

We have additional needs in central London, we need more people out in a security function

Metropolitan Police spokeswoman

The community support officers (CSOs) will earn about �21,000 a year and up to 500 will be pounding London streets by the end of 2002.

Earlier this year, the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee published a report endorsing the use of CSOs - but on the condition it is not compulsory for forces to adopt them.

The plan is CSOs, with the power to detain suspects for up to half an hour, will help regular police officers with routine patrolling.

Speaking in May, Home Office Minister John Denham said CSOs would tackle low level crime and anti-social behaviour, to free up officers' time to work on the frontline.

Classroom studies

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "We have additional needs in central London, we need more people out in a security function than perhaps you would in Peckham."

The first 50 of 300 newly appointed CSOs will complete a three-week training course - a fortnight will be spent in the classroom and the final week will see them on the streets of Westminster, where they will eventually work.

Of this first complement, 200 will perform a security role in central London and the remaining 100 will be split between Heathrow Airport, Canary Wharf and London City Airport.

The final 200, who have yet to be recruited, will be used in a community role across various London boroughs.

Superintendent Mark Gore, who is managing the project, said the CSOs would make the community a better and safer place.

Anti-terrorist role

He said: "They will tackle anti-social behaviour.

"It's an additional resource for the police to use and deploy.

"We don't think they're going to undermine the role of police officers, rather they will help them so that police officers can use their skills more widely."

Their training will include subjects such as diversity and ethics, personal safety, emergency life support and evidence gathering.

They will wear uniforms described as "a cross between a traffic warden and a police officer" and will work a shift pattern to provide 24-hour cover.

Under the Police Reform Act, an extension to their role will include powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 to stop and search vehicles, search bags and enforce cordons.

They will also have powers to enter premises in certain emergencies.

The provisions of the Act take effect in December.