In May, 26 PCSOs were deployed throughout Hampshire to aid the police force. Four in total were assigned to East Hampshire, one of whom is Jim Leggatt, 47, who has been allocated Headley, Lindford and Grayshott. He has only been doing his new job for a matter of weeks but he can already tell the difference it is making.
Mr Leggatt told The Herald: "We were told during our initial training that we should not expect any feedback for at least six to nine months, but it's incredible, I've been doing the job for about six weeks and I'm already getting really positive comments that people feel safer and happier."
PCSOs provide high visibility foot patrols and deal primarily with incidents of antisocial behaviour that do not require the full powers of a police officer. Mr Leggatt clarified: "We help with low-level crime, which will free up time for the other officers to deal with the more complicated duties, and, hopefully, our presence on the streets will reassure the public."
All the recruits had to complete a five-week training programme at the force's training and support headquarters at Netley. Since then, Pc Dave Williams from Whitehill Police has been acting as Mr Leggatt's mentor and accompanies him on patrol to provide guidance.
Whitehill Police have been supportive from the outset: "Dave and the others have been superb," he enthused, "All of the officers have been interested in what I can do and how I can contribute to things that are low on their priorities, which saves them time.
"In fact, quite a few senior police officers have said that they'd love to do what I do when they retire because it's like the old-style policing where you are back on the beat. I get the best bits of their job and none of the bureaucracy which takes up so much time."
Mr Leggatt was initially in the Army for five years and when he left he tried to join the police force, but at the time they were not recruiting, so he became a BT engineer instead where he stayed for 20 years. He then became a heavy goods lorry driver for four years until he saw the advert for PCSOs in the Evening News.
Mr Leggatt believes the secret of success will be in building people's confidence and levels of trust. He said: "If people have issues they can come and speak to me and I'll try and help but if I can't, I'll know a man who can.
"The results have been remarkable already. People come to me and say that they haven't seen any kind of police presence in their area for years.
"Normally when people see a police constable they know there is a problem, or some kind of trouble because police officers don't have time to do community patrolling but that is our prime role, to let people see that we are out and about."
Stuart Neil, 20, the PCSO in charge of Liss and Liphook is also enjoying his work. "We keep in touch by email all the time, comparing notes and sharing information," said Mr Leggatt. They work a 39-hour week. Their shifts are variable at their discretion. Mr Leggatt explained: "Obviously it cannot be a nine to five job. How can you deal with underage drinking like that? We need to be around when there is trouble, which often means working evenings and weekends."
PCSOs have the powers to confiscate and dispose of alcohol from underage drinkers or even confiscate it from adults in the company of underage drinkers in a public place, if they suspect they are supplying them with alcohol. They can also do the same with cigarettes. They can ask teenagers their name and age and if they fail to give it, it is an offence. Mr Leggatt has spent the past few weeks getting to know his patch, he has been busy introducing himself to parish councils, schools, youth clubs, after school clubs and generally getting himself seen. He is also getting to know the issues particular to each village.
The PCSOs have all had unarmed defence training but they don't carry gas, batons or handcuffs because they are not required to deal with public order offences. "We have to do our own risk assessment and ask ourselves 'can I handle this?' and, if not, step back and get on the radio for back-up.
"We have the power to make arrests, which is something people don't often realise. You don't need handcuffs because if the offender runs off, they are committing a further offence."
Mr Leggatt envisages PCSOs getting even more powers in the future. He explained: "The job will change as it beds in. The government is planning to bring in new legislation and with that will come new powers. There are so many things that we could deal with that we don't have the powers for currently - traffic and parking problems, for example."
Mr Leggatt concluded: "So far, I'm loving it, 90 per cent of it is the nice side of policing. It is less pressured and there's hardly any paperwork, so the majority of the time you are out on patrol.
"Absolutely everybody is on board, all the community groups are supportive because they can see the advantages of having us around. I think we can really make a difference."
Anyone who would like to contact their local PCSOs should call Whitehill Police on 0845 0454545.