NEW police support officers will grab crime fighting by the scruff of the neck after becoming the first in the country to receive new powers.

Fourteen crime prevention workers went on the beat in Lancashire for the first time yesterday after being appointed with almost £1million of government cash specifically for the project.

Lancashire is the first place in the country outside of London to see Police Community Support Officers on the street and police hope there will soon be 72 new recruits.

But Pennine Division, covering Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, has been chosen as a pilot area in Britain to allow the officers to use "reasonable force" to detain suspects as well as stop and search vehicles.

Elsewhere, Police Community Support Officers have more limited powers as they work alongside police officers to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Burnley has five PCSOs, Colne two and Brierfield and Rossendale have one each. More will be appointed by February The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, has expressed concern that the new officers will replace fully trained police.

But Chief Constable Paul Stephenson stressed PCSOs were not replacing police officers. He said he was not being offered any more cash for police officers and was keen to take money for projects like PCSOs.

More than half the forces in England and Wales have also received funding for PCSOs from the £19million pot.

Burnley's MP Peter Pike said: "I understand why the pilot has been introduced and I believe that it is the right course of action.

"I am sure the police will be keeping it under review, as will I. We have had a fairly difficult policing situation in Burnley.

"In the aftermath of the disturbances last year the police have had a difficult time and have had to do things they would not normally have done."

Carole Galbraith, a parish councillor for Worsthorne, said the new officers would benefit Burnley's rural areas.

She said: "Not all crime needs a fully fledged police officer to attend. It is more sensible to keep them where they are needed most. I am sure the new officers will help to reduce anti-social behaviour and give residents, especially the elderly, a greater sense of security."

PCSOs have the following powers:

Issuing fixed penalty notices for incidents such as dog fouling and litter

Confiscating alcohol and tobacco as well as the seizure of vehicles

Removing abandoned vehicles and the power of entry to save life or prevent damage

Detention of up to 30 minutes until a police officer arrives

PCSOs are already operated by the Metropolitan Police, where the additional powers are not utilised, and they also underwent a successful trial in Lancaster last year.

Around 200 people applied for one of the 72 Lancashire posts, which carries a salary of between £12,000 and £14,000 a year.

The first batch have just undergone four weeks of classroom training ready for their role.

Former Army soldier and DJ Des Wrest has responsibility for Brierfield and Reedley.

Des failed to get into the police a year ago but wants to progress to be a police constable.

Des, 41, said: "It's a very challenging area with different minority groups. It's juvenile nuisance which will be my main concern and I'm looking forward to getting started."

Trouble makers in the top end of Burnley won't want to argue with their CSO Zahid Ahmed -- he's a first-dan black belt in kicking boxing.