CHESHIRE Police has launched a ‘new approach to community policing’.

Dedicated police officers will be assigned to each of the county’s 122 policing areas under the new scheme.

This will ‘build on the already successfully deliver initiative’ to provide a PCSO and community base for each of these patches.

Police and crime commissioner David Keane said: “My focus will always be to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, support victims and protect vulnerable people.

“I believe the best way to do this is by delivering a truly local police service that is fit for the future and an integral part of our communities.

“This project is about local police working more closely than ever before with local communities, to meet local priorities.

“With the support of Cheshire residents, we have been able to increase our officer numbers which has helped make this next stage possible.

“Delivering it has been a key budget priority for me this year and I am pleased we have been able deliver this initiative despite the challenges that Covid-19 has posed and continues to pose on our communities.

“I’m confident having dedicated officers will build on the success we've already had in providing each community with a dedicated PCSO and its own community base and will allow us to stay connected to our communities in light of new coronavirus restrictions.

“For me, community policing is an integral part of protecting our communities and my ambition is to make Cheshire the best in the country at community policing.

“I know that we can only achieve this by investing in our communities and our workforce to ensure policing teams and local residents are given the support and tools they need to make our communities safer.”

Ill-gotten monies seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act will be used to fund the scheme.

With £1,000 for all wards and an additional £10,000 for the eight policing units in Cheshire.

Force chief constable Darren Martland added: "This is a big step forward and an exciting development in our policing model.

"Dedicated police officers will work with PCSOs, volunteers, partners and, most importantly, the communities that we serve to adopt a preventative and problem-solving approach to dealing with the issues that most affect our communities.”