SUSSEX Police are recruiting for 18 new PCSOs.

After years of cutting officer numbers the force has opened up recruitment.

However the extra jobs will be to retain the current 196 police community support officers across the force rather than increase the number on the beat.

The new officers will work in teams across districts - rather than specific neighbourhoods - and be deployed to wherever they are needed for crime prevention.

Assistant Chief Constable Nick May said: “PCSOs work with officers to keep our communities’ safe, so the public should be reassured that we are very much still working in local communities across Sussex. If you apply you can expect to deal with issues such as hate crime, anti-social behaviour or helping vulnerable people in difficult situations.”

Sussex Police Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne added: “PCSOs take a proactive part in keeping our community safe, supporting crime prevention and police investigations. If you think you can tackle the issues that matter most to local people, the role of PCSO could be tailor made for you.”

Sussex Police was criticised for reducing the he number of PCSOs across the force from a peak of 260 in January 2016 to 196 by January 2017.

Data unearthed by The Argus showed an increase in antisocial behaviour coincided with the drop in PCSO numbers.

PCSOs roles can range from helping look for missing people, catching shoplifters or resolving antisocial behaviour.

During 2016 the role of PCSOS changed from beat officers in specific neighbourhoods to hub based teams.

PCSOs who are police staff not warranted officers with the power of arrest and receive a starting salary of £20,874.

FACTFILE

POLICE Community Support Officers are civilians not warranted officers.

There are 196 PCSOs across Sussex and the new officers will maintain numbers lost through resignation and retirement.

Following a six week training programme, PCSOs receive an annual salary of £20,874 plus shift allowance of around £5,000 a year.

Officers get 24 days holiday a year -increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service.

PCSOs must be 18 to apply and have a full UK manual license by the time they are appointed.

For more information and to apply visit https://sussex.police.uk/jobs/pcsos/