COMMUNITY support officers patrol-ling the streets of Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent are proving a hit with locals, according to police.

The CSOs, as they are known, began working in C Division - which covers Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent - earlier this year.

They are support staff employed by the police authority, and they perform a high visibility patrolling role to provide reassurance to the communities they serve.

Chief Superintendent Ian Johnston, head of the division, said the officers had been extremely well received by the public.

"They are a highly visible uniform presence on the streets," he said. "They are working particularly well with police officers in addressing crime and disorder issues and since their introduction we have seen a decrease in disorder incidents."

Wales Office minister Don Touhig also met a group of CSOs to hear of their experiences in helping the police.

Mr Touhig, whose ministerial responsibilities include anti-crime measures, said: "Community support officers provide an essential back-up service to the police and are a highly visible policing presence in the community.

"I am very pleased to have the opportunity today to congratulate them on their work - an essential part of the government drive to crack down on the sort of anti-social behaviour that can blight communities and make people's lives a misery."

Mr Touhig added: "I very much welcome the increase in the number of CSOs secured for Wales from 30 in 2002/3, all in Gwent, to 113 in 2003/4, including 50 for Gwent."

PICTURED: Community officer Liz Paul.