THREE new community support officers have taken to the streets of Kidderminster.

Toby Stephenson and Simon Gallagher, who have both joined the Oldington and Foley Park Local Policing Team, were already CSOs in other areas of Worcestershire, while Rachel Harrison, who has joined the Greenhill team, was a call-taker at West Mercia Police's headquarters.

CSO Stephenson, who was a CSO in Worcester for four years before transferring to Kidderminster, said: "I enjoy the freedom of being able to talk to people and helping them.

"Oldington and Foley Park is already proving to be a busy area, with schools and a youth club I can get involved in and it is really good to be able to get stuck in."

CSO Gallagher has transferred from Redditch, where he was a CSO for about a year.

He got into the role after spending most of his life working in the recruitment industry, supplying heavy goods vehicle drivers. His wife Johanne is a call taker at force headquarters.

He said: "A year in Redditch gave me a really good grounding in the role of a CSO and I'm really pleased to be joining the Oldington and Foley Park team and to help make a difference in the local community."

CSO Harrison worked at the force’s headquarters for three and a half years before deciding on a change of direction.

She said: "I really enjoyed by job as a call-taker but I wanted more face-to-face contact with the public and to be able to get out and about, so becoming a CSO made sense.

“Greenhill is slightly different to most of the other local policing areas as it incorporates the town centre and Horsefair area but I'm getting to know the staff in the various shops and offices and am really enjoying the new challenge."

Inspector Paul Crowley, Wyre Forest district commander, said: "It is fantastic to welcome three new CSOs to Kidderminster, especially as all three were already working for West Mercia Police.

"Toby and Simon bring the experience they have already gained as CSOs in Worcester and Redditch, while Rachel has a unique perspective as a former call-taker, a role which has equipped her for communicating with people from all walks of life.”