EXTRA administrative staff are to be employed at police stations in Portishead, Clevedon and Nailsea in a bid to cut down on hours spent by police on paperwork. Avon and Somerset Police is recruiting extra staff to help with administrative support so poli

EXTRA administrative staff are to be employed at police stations in Portishead, Clevedon and Nailsea in a bid to cut down on hours spent by police on paperwork.Avon and Somerset Police is recruiting extra staff to help with administrative support so police officers can get out on the street more.North Somerset Police Chief Superintendent Julian Moss said: "The support workers are part of the force's new neighbourhood policing strategy."Eventually there will be one each for Nailsea, Portishead and Clevedon and a further four across the south of the district. "They are there to communicate with the public and local action teams (LATS)and generally help with requests from the community."They will be office based and will also give practical support and provide a point of contact."The initiative is all part of our drive to reduce bureaucracy and make sure our neighbourhood policing teams are being given the administrative support they need."Then we will get PCs and police community support officers (PCSOs) out where we want them and where the public wants them, which is on the streets."The PCSO support officers will also act as a point of contact for local action teams and speedwatch groups.The North Somerset Times revealed earlier this month how former LAT co-ordinator for the district, Alison Tull, had to leave her post because of lack of funding. The newspaper also revealed how community based police officers were to be moved from their posts in each of the three towns to form a new neighbourhood support team.The move will see just one beat officer left to patrol each of the three towns.Police representatives met with LAT members last week to discuss what will happen with the groups in the future.Chief Supt Moss added: "The support for LATs in the future will be provided through the support officers. "At the meeting LAT representatives said they wanted separate meetings for the Weston district and the northern district as the needs of both are different.