SEVEN new Community Support Officers (CSOs) have joined the Redditch beat.
Samantha Ainsworth and Jonathan Duggins have joined the North East sector while Lindon Lloyd and Rachel Wheeler have joined the Central area.
South West Redditch will be covered by Jo Evans and Simon Craddock, while Liam McEvilly will work the South division, which is based at Alexandra Hospital.
The newly qualified CSOs will boost the total number of CSOs in the town to 12.
The appointment follows seven weeks of training at West Mercia's force headquarters at Hindlip, Worcester.
The CSOs trained alongside student police officers in a new-style induction programme which included tackling antisocial behaviour.
Redditch's Chief Inspector Angela Burnet said: "We are delighted to welcome these newly trained CSOs to Redditch.
"For the first four weeks, they will be working alongside the local beat managers and it will be no time at all before they are making a positive contribution to policing in the town."
Chief Insp Burnet added: "Working in the heart of communities, these additional CSOs will help us move further forward with our local policing initiative by providing reassurance, high visibility and an important point of contact as they become established in their role."
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