DORSET PCSOs will begin dealing with offences including assault and burglary after victims of crime said they were not visited by police in a "timely and efficient manner".

The force has introduced a new role for PCSOs who complete extra training. The new police community support investigators - or PCSIs - will attend appointments for crimes assessed to be 'lower-risk', including harassment and break-ins to outbuildings.

The officers will record the offence, carry out initial investigations, such as identification of CCTV and witness opportunities, take statements and issue crime prevention advice.

In total, 31 PCSI roles will be created. The officers, who will be based in Poole, Bournemouth, Blandford, Wareham, Ferndown, Weymouth and Bridport, will undertake an intensive eight-week training programme and shadow PCs for a further four weeks.

Top officers say the new role was created following feedback from the public that police don't always respond to lower-level crimes quickly enough.

The PCSIs will also give victims of crime the chance to speak to an officer in person.

It is expected that the project will result in additional cases for teams dealing with cyber-crime, child sexual exploitation and sex offences.

The Daily Echo revealed in June 2017 that plans to develop the role of the PCSO were being considered during a widescale review.

Assistant Chief Constable Julie Fielding said: “As has been seen in other parts of the country, policing numbers have reduced over the last five years and we must constantly evolve how we operate to ensure we best meet the needs of Dorset residents.

“This is an exciting time for our police community support investigators, who have been recruited from our existing police community support officers.

"They bring with them a range of skills and years of policing experience which will be very useful in their new roles.

“We have been able to invest in increasing resources in areas where we experience significant demand by retraining and redeploying PCSOs from our neighbourhood policing teams, while still enabling them to carry out some of their more traditional responsibilities wherever and whenever it is appropriate in a more flexible role.

“Neighbourhood policing is still at the centre of everything we do in Dorset and we remain committed to supporting local communities who expect and deserve a visible policing presence.

"We will continue to have police officers and PCSOs working as part of our neighbourhood policing teams across the county.”

Cheryl Belfield is one of the new PCSIs. She had previously served as a PCSO for eight years.

She said: "We all join policing to help people and in this new role, I can really put my problem solving and investigative skills into practice and have an even greater impact on supporting victims and vulnerable members of our community.”

ACC Fielding said: “Crime has changed and we must ensure our workforce reflects the modern demands we face. Increasingly these are complex and often hidden from public view such as online crime and child sexual exploitation, which are particularly impactive on victims.

“We have been very honest and open with the public while making these changes and we will continue to ensure that through a flexible approach and efficient distribution of our resources we are able to continue to meet current challenges and demands.

“Neighbourhood policing as a whole is still part of every police officer and PCSO’s business, which includes response officers, local investigation staff and other operational officers.”