New-style police workers will be hitting the streets of Braintree and Witham to crack down on anti-social behaviour.
Thirteen Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will be employed to target trouble hotspots in the Braintree division from October.
The auxiliary officers, branded policing on the cheap by critics, are part of an 80-worker task force to be introduced in Essex.
The main focus of their work will be to crack down on anti-social behaviour in shopping areas, schools and housing estates.
They will back up the work of regular police officers by tackling quality of life issues, such as dog fouling, noise, nuisance youths and littering.
They will have the duty of patrolling footpaths and public areas, building and maintaining community relations and helping to control minor incidents.
The PCSOs will be recognisable on the streets by their uniform of a fluorescent yellow jacket bearing the words Police Community Support Officer.
They will be issued with police hats, although they will have a silver band instead of the chequered band of usual police hats.
Divisional commanders like Chief Supt Sue Harrison, of Braintree, will use their discretion to decide which parts of their area the new officers will patrol.
Unlike special constables, the officers will be full-time and have limited powers.
Published Thursday, June 5, 2003
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