A NEW team of police community support officers will be pounding the streets of Nailsea, Clevedon and Portishead. The first five recruits started on their beats on Wednesday and will be tackling issues including antisocial behaviour, low level crime and t

A NEW team of police community support officers will be pounding the streets of Nailsea, Clevedon and Portishead.The first five recruits started on their beats on Wednesday and will be tackling issues including antisocial behaviour, low level crime and traffic offences.They will also work with local Neighbourhood Watch groups and Local Action Teams.In total Nailsea will have 11 new PCSOs, Clevedon will get nine and Portishead will take on eight new recruits.In the Nailsea sector Laura Richards, daughter of award winning Clevedon PCSO Linda Richards, will be covering Long Ashton and Wraxall.Charlotte Thompson, who used to work for a bank, will cover Backwell and Melanie Downton, a former recruitment consultant, will pound the beat in Nailsea.Nailsea sector police spokesman Sergeant Sarah Treweek said: "The vast majority of the new PCSOs time will be spent in the community to provide a visible and reassuring presence."They will be dealing with a range of issues from antisocial behaviour to low level crime and minor traffic offences."The appointment of the PCSOs really strengthens the team we have in the sector and is part of the first big step forward in neighbourhood policing."We are delighted to have them on board."Pictured: The new police community support officers get ready to pound the beat at Nailsea Police Station. Pictured are new recruits Laura Richards, Michelle Barrett, community sergeant for Nailsea Sarah Treweek and PCSOs Charlotte Thompson and Melanie Downton.