FOUR new police community support officers have begun their initial nine-week training before hitting the streets of West Devon. David Chapple, Robert Walsh, Lisa Smith and Lee Walker are part of a group of 22 South and West Devon Basic Command Unit's recent intake of PCSOs. The four new recruits have been allocated to Tavistock and Okehampton but will first embark on an induction at the training facilities at Seale Hayne, Newton Abbot. They will learn about their powers, problem solving and partnership working, plus how to deal with community issues such as criminal damage and anti-social behaviour. David Chapple and Robert Walsh will be based at Tavistock and Lisa Smith and Lee Walker at Okehampton from February 12. Chief Insp Mark Backhouse said: 'The PCSOs are an integral part of how we are involving our neighbourhood teams. 'They will work with the current PCSOs and neighbourhood beat managers in providing a highly visible presence in the communities of South and West Devon. 'Although the decision from the Home Office to withdraw funding for the planned recruitment next year has been made, we will still have more people working in our neighbourhoods than we have ever had before.' He added that PCSOs are key in tackling low level crime and building community relationships. The powers of the new PCSOs will be sufficient to deal with minor disorder and to tackle anti-social behaviour, under-age drinking, truancy and dealing with abandoned and unlicensed vehicles. The 22 new recruits will join the current 31 already working with the communities and local people in South and West Devon. l Pictured are Lee Walker, Lisa Smith, David Chapple and Robert Walsh.
