DORSET Police is to recruit 40 new officers by the end of the financial year.

And 35 new police community support officers are on the way - which will almost double the current number.

Chief Constable Jane Stichbury announced the recruitment drive at a Dorset Police Authority meeting at Dorchester's County Hall yesterday.

She said half of the new police officers will deal with 'frontline duties'.

Mrs Stichbury said: "While the recruiting and training of the additional officers takes time, the beneficial effects of the increase are already being seen in improved performance - as total crime in the county has fallen by 6.5 per cent this year.

"This trend of increasing the number of officers for frontline policing will be continuing and it's something that I am strongly committed to, in order to help make Dorset a much safer place to live, work and visit."

In February, 2004, Dorset Police Authority set the Force's budget at £101.6 million for the financial year beginning April, 2004.

Mrs Stichbury said the policing part of this year's council tax bill has increased by only 23p a week for a Band D household.

She said: "This year's budget gave us the opportunity to increase the amount of PCSOs in Dorset - an increase from the seven that we had in place in February, to 42 by the end of the financial year.

"We currently have 20 PCSOs and all vacant posts are due to be filled by December, helping to provide high-

visibility policing and extra support for our regular officers."

Michael Taylor, chairman of Dorset Police Authority, said: "We are extremely pleased with these results which show that the budget that has been set for Dorset Police is being used wisely and efficiently."