The force is taking part in the Home Office's Community Support Officer (CSO) scheme to increase police visibility.

The government has given the force �150,000 to pay for the CSOs, who will work alongside regular PCs.

The new staff will be trained for three weeks but will not have the same powers as police officers.They will be unable to make arrests but can hold suspects for up to 30 minutes until officers arrive.

These people may not have the experience or the powers to deal with the types of situation they may encounter

Jan Berry, Police Federation

Ten CSOs will be based in Honiton, where they will focus on reducing the fear of crime.

Another 10 will be placed in Truro to work with the community and groups like Neighbourhood Watch.

However, some rank-and-file police officers fiercely oppose the introduction of CSOs.

They claim it is "policing on the cheap" and that the auxiliaries' mistakes would create more work for proper PCs.

The Police Federation, which represents the 129,000 frontline officers, also opposes their introduction.

Chairman Jan Berry said: "We remain concerned about CSOs. These new auxiliaries will be dealing with the most difficult area of frontline policing.

"These people may not have the experience or the powers to deal with the types of situation they may encounter.

"Yet because they are someone in uniform with a degree of authority, the public will expect them to deal with those situations."

Public reassurance

Police minister John Denham said: "CSOs are not policing on the cheap. They will not replace police officers.

"They are an additional resource aimed at further reducing crime and the fear of crime."

In Cornwall, superintendent John Green from Truro police station says people want to see officers of any kind on the beat.

He said: "Well, we hope there is going to be some reassurance here, and it will assist the work we do.

"While we are not looking to do policing on the cheap at all, we're looking to employ people on this government-funded initiative to increase the visible presence of somebody the people can trust in the street."