CONTROVERSIAL plans to recruit more police support officers have been greeted with caution in Dorset.

Home Secretary David Blunkett's proposal for 20,000 more Community Support Officers (CSOs) has already been slammed by forces across England and Wales.

Fully-trained police officers fear the cheaper and relatively poorly-trained officers will eventually take the jobs of traditional Constables.

And they have been dubbed "plastic police" by their critics.

Dorset currently employs 22 CSOs and is now recruiting for a further 18.

Paul Dashwood, secretary of the Dorset branch of the Police Federation, said CSOs are currently working well in the county but said members fear they will eventually replace fully-trained officers.

"While police numbers continue to increase and additional funding is available for CSOs it will be for the benefit of everybody," he said.

"However, we are concerned that they will end up replacing fully-trained and fully-skilled officers."

CSOs currently receive around three weeks of training compared with more than two years for a police officer.

At around £15,000, they earn nearly £7,000 less and need no formal qualifications to join up.

Their powers include the issue of fixed penalty notices, confiscation of alcohol from teenagers, vehicle checks and detaining a suspect until a police officer arrives.

Constables have full powers to arrest those suspected of committing an offence and to serve warrants for arrest.

Many fear the public will mistake CSOs for regular officers but Mr Dashwood said measures are being taken in Dorset to ensure this does not happen.

"CSOs could become vulnerable if people think they are fully-trained officers. We are trying to make sure their uniform is different."

Jan Berry, national chairman of the Police Federation, said she believes CSOs are being used in a bid to deal with the public's desire to see more police officers on the beat.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "Existing CSOs have proved to be very popular with the local community and they provide a very valuable service."

He said the force aims to bid for additional CSOs but numbers have not yet been confirmed.

First published: September 11