THE Herefordshire Community Policing Board has welcomed news that the division now has 26 Community Support Officers in post, with a further 12 currently undertaking training.

The CSOs are part of 20 new local policing teams established across Herefordshire, tasked with increasing patrols, improving communication and strengthening community relationships.

Bernard Hunt, of Bromyard, chairman of the Community Policing Board, said: "This is all good news for the people of Herefordshire. I am regularly told that people want to see their streets policed and for their local police station to be open longer.

"The new CSOs and volunteers will help to make a real difference to how safe people feel and I hope more people may consider volunteering their time to help improve their own local community."

Four of the CSOs are funded by the Herefordshire Community Safety and Drugs Partnership, with the specific brief of tackling anti-social behaviour across the county.

The board has also praised the role that special constables and volunteer workers play in helping to build safer communities across the county.

Herefordshire currently has 31 special constables who work alongside regular officers carrying out duties, including foot patrols, road safety initiatives, house-to-house inquiries and dealing with anti-social behaviour.

There are also four civilian volunteers, two of whom are helping with migrant worker projects.

Extra volunteers are also being sought for a variety of roles, which could include providing extra staffing to front counters, allowing outlying police stations across Herefordshire to extend their opening hours.

To find out more, visit www.westmercia.police.uk or look out for the leaflets that the teams will be distributing.

Anyone interested in volunteering can call Herefordshire Police 08457 444 888 and ask for the Local Policing and Partnership Support Team.