THE number of community support officers pounding the beat in Worcester and surrounding areas is to more than triple in the next year.

West Mercia Police Authority has agreed to hire an additional 183 CSOs by April 2007, bringing the total to 255.

CSOs are members of the public, with some of the police powers, but none of the paperwork.

Paul Deneen, chairman of the authority, said: "The Home Office is proposing to allocate West Mercia an extra £1.43m grant, on top of £2.9m already provided, to do this.

"We believe that the proposals will be of great benefit to the communities of West Mercia, helping to provide reassurance in local neighbourhoods and reduce anti-social behaviour.

"We have been assured that the force's current substantial recruiting and training programme can be successfully adjusted to meet the proposals."

One person who knows all about the role of CSO is Joe Facchiano. The 34-year-old has patrolled the streets of Worcester city centre, Barbourne and the Arboretum for the past two years. He said: "I joined because I was frustrated at seeing things left for other people to deal with.

"I wanted to make a difference to things like litter dropping - a real bugbear of mine.

"CSOs can sometimes be called `wannabes', but most of us have no desire to be a police officer.

"I'm out there seeing people. Being a CSO is all about high visibility patrol and reassuring people we are looking after them.

"You get to know people and to gain their trust because you are out there with them. You become a familiar face and a wave and a smile can make someone feel safer and make their day."

The number of CSOs will increase to 373 by April 2008. The Government's intention is to have 24,000 community support officers nationally by that year.