Selby'S new community policing unit is set to expand following a successful first two months.

Two additional community beat officers (CBOs) will join the team of seven who began their duties on April 7, providing a visible police presence across the district and a point of contact for the local community.

The officers are part of the new Community Safety Team at Selby Police headquarters in Portholme Road. The team includes the police licensing officer, community safety officer, neighbourhood watch co-ordinator and youth involvement officer, all previously based in Barlby.

It is believed that the new CBOs will be operational by the end of the year and will cover patches in the Sherburn-in-Elmet and Tadcaster areas.

Sgt John Manuel, head of the Community Safety Team, said he was very pleased with the progress of his new "bobbies on the beat", but admitted it was still early days.

"Things are going very well but the officers are still finding their feet, getting out and about, getting to know the right people.

"The response from the public has been very good indeed. The thing people wanted within the community was a name and a face, and a way of getting hold of that person. That is what we are offering."

He urged the public to give the new initiative time to show results.

"We have gone from zero to what we have got here today. It terms of costs, it is a lot of money being invested in the officers and resources.

"We are not the first line response. It is about problem solving and it is not a quick-fix solution."

The expansion of the CBO initiative follows the recent announcement that Selby will have five new-style community support officers from June 23, who will deal with anti-social behaviour and boost manpower in emergency situations.

They will have no powers of arrest, but will be able to issue fixed penalties and confiscate alcohol.

"Serious road traffic accidents normally tie up half-a- dozen officers just directing traffic," said Sgt Manuel. "This is not a particularly good use of resources.

"This is certainly a new venture and we will just have to see how they develop.

"It is something we have never had before in the history of policing."

Updated: 14:18 Monday, June 09, 2003