Civilian officers will soon be patrolling the streets of Sussex to act as "the eyes and ears" of the police.
Sussex Police has been given £251,774 for 22 community support officers, Home Secretary David Blunkett announced today.
The CSOs will eventually be able to detain, but not arrest, members of the public for up to half an hour.
They will also be able to make limited searches and hand out fixed penalties for antisocial behaviour.
The civilian officers, who will wear their own distinctive uniform, could be on the streets within months.
Nationwide, 27 police forces have secured a share of £19 million to employ the CSOs, who have been dubbed "Blunkett's bouncers" and "plastic policemen".
Mr Blunkett said: "CSOs will help free up the record 129,603 police officers we have, enabling them to better tackle street robbery and other serious crime."
Home Office Police Minister John Denham said: "CSOs are not policing on the cheap. They will not replace police officers."
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