POLICE Community Support Officers Mark Jones and Esther Osborne say the only time people respond negatively to them is when they are mistaken for traffic wardens.

As long as no-one thinks theyre going to get a ticket, feedback has otherwise been overwhelmingly positive, they say.

The unlikely pair V hes a 41-year-old Scouser and shes a 21-year-old from Weymouth V have been patrolling the streets of Lyme Regis and Charmouth for most of the summer.

Part of a nationwide scheme funded by the Home Office, their job is to provide a re-assuring presence on the street and build relationships with community groups V a modern equivalent of the bobby-on-the-beat of bygone days that so many people miss.

People are generally very pleased to see us on the street, says Mark. They like to see somebody walking around rather than flashing past in a car.

And people tell you things in the street that they perhaps wouldnt come to the station to tell you, adds Esther.

Inspector Alan Jenkins says the PCSOs are supposed to be covering all of Bridport section V that is Lyme, Charmouth, Bridport and Beaminster, but he has directed Mark and Esther specifically to Lyme Regis and Charmouth since May to cover the busy holiday period.

He says: The PCSOs have been a great success as far as were concerned. They are not police officers and not a replacement for police officers, they are support to police officers and have, on the basis of public reassurance and providing a presence, been a big hit.

PCSOs dont have the power to arrest anyone, but do have the authority to exercise a limited amount of control over some of the everyday, petty crimes that annoy people nose. They can:

fxConfiscate alcohol in designated public places

fxConfiscate alcohol from young people

fxConfiscate tobacco from young people

fxHave abandoned vehicles removed

fxissue fixed penalty fines for cycling on the pavement, dog fouling and litter fnfnfnfnfnfnfnfn fnfnfnfnfnfxfnfnfnfnAsk for a name and address when they have reasonable belief that a person has committed an offence involving injury, alarm or distress or when it involves loss or damage to a property.

The pair also have CCTV in their patrol car.

But its not all ticking off and confiscating V in fact Mark and Esther say that most of their work is about relationship building.

On their walks about town, they try to promote Shop Watch V a radio link scheme which enables shop keepers to talk to one another and warn of possible lifters in the area. The scheme has been a success in Bridport and Mark and Esther are keen to see that success flourish in Lyme.

Elsewhere, the pair is trying to build better relationships with the towns youth as part of a social inclusion scheme (police speak for making sure everyone gets along together).

They say that having someone young like Esther to talk to means that young people dont feel threatened by a police presence and that young people are easier to deal with as a result.

They are both keen to help the young people of Lyme Regis who they say are much maligned.

Says Mark: If there is nothing in the town for them to do they will find something to do and unfortunately it wont always be socially acceptable.

They are also actively promoting the Data-Link scheme in Lyme Regis. Many elderly residents living alone will soon receive a Data-Link pack V emergency information regarding medicines and illnesses is kept inside a plastic container in the fridge so that the emergency services can get to key information quickly.

Mark and Esther have also been getting involved with the fun aspects of community life and Mark has already been the target of a wet sponge throwing contest at Thorncombe fete and joined in with the tug-o-war.

With holiday season bringing crowds to the town, holidaymakers are also feeling the benefit of Mark and Esthers presence.

Anyone in a crowd feels safer with a uniformed presence, says Mark.

Insp Jenkins says the PCSO scheme is still on a trial basis and will be reviewed in 2004 by the Chief Constable.

He says: As section commander I would very much like to continue with the PCSOs and would like some more of them too.

To contact Mark or Esther call the police in Lyme on 01297 442603.