IT'S a complaint of modern day society - whatever happened to the good old-fashioned bobby on the beat?

But these eight men and women are making a concerted effort in Christ-church to ensure policing is very much part of the community.

As the Police Federation meets in Bournemouth to call for less paper work and more street policing, Inspector Andrew Earley at Christchurch is pedal pushing a more visible presence in the town. His eight beat officers are currently trialing new electronic-powered bikes.

The new bikes should allow the officers to carry out their jobs with more ease while maintaining that all-important visible, and personal touch while pounding their beats.

"The beat officers are really the backbone of what we are trying to achieve in Christchurch and Dorset as a whole," Inspector Earley said. "We are trying to make our officers more visible and available to the community and in Christchurch our eight beat officers all have responsibility for policing their own areas.

"They are responsible for responding to all non-emergency calls in their areas and for dealing with all sorts of community issues, like getting involved with the schools and the parish councils.

"We are actively trying to increase foot patrols. The problem is an officer can walk past a house six times a day but unless you are glued to your window you might not see them - but they are there.

"Others argue that if the police are on foot patrol they won't necessarily be where a crime is taking place but with the right intelligence and focusing on the right areas you can, and we do, make lots of arrests.

"In an ideal world I would like more officers full stop, but my job is to do the best we can with the resources we've got, which is what we aim to achieve at all times."

It is hoped the new electronic bikes will further enhance the beat bobbies role in Christchurch.

They are being used on trial for three months and, if they prove to be a success, the bikes will become a permanent fixture.

Contact your Christ-church beat bobbies for non-emergency calls on 01202 222907.

Fact file

Christchurch's beat bobbies are:

Hurn/Bournemouth Inter-national Airport - PC Alan Dixon

Fairmile/

Jumpers - PCs Rachel Fooks and Elizabeth Chauffourier

Town Centre/Purewell - PCs Brenda Traylen and Andy Sims

Somerford - PC Rick Clarke

Burton/Mudeford - PC Dave Pike

Highcliffe - PC Dave Williams, former runner-up in the Home Beat Officer of the Year Awards.