A new type of police officer will patrol the streets of Worthing.

From Monday, five Community Support Officers (CSOs) set to patrol the Worthing and Chichester area will join 22 others across Sussex in working alongside police officers.

The aim is to provide more high visibility patrols, liaisons with community groups and public reassurance.

The officers' role will be to help cut crime by dealing with incidents before they became a police matter.

Sussex is one of 27 police forces to be allocated cash for the new officers.

They will have a range of powers to deal with low-level nuisances, including the ability to issue fixed-penalty notices for cycling on footpaths, dog fouling and littering as well as confiscating alcohol and tobacco and removing abandoned vehicles.

Although their powers will not be as great as police officers, CSOs will help to strengthen relationships within the community.

Their uniforms are to be similar to that of standard officers, apart from a reflective blue cap band and labels identifying them as CSOs.

West Downs divisional commander Chief Superintendent Graham Walter said: "CSOs are a very welcome addition to the wider police family.

"They will enhance the street visibility necessary to make West Downs division an even safer place to be and deliver the necessary reassurance to the community to reduce the fear of crime.

"Combined with our existing police patrol strength, they will provide the numbers necessary to prevent lower-level crime and tackle anti-social behaviour and many other quality-of-life issues that are so important to our community's well-being."

David Rogers, chairman of Sussex Police Authority, said police visibility had been identified by the authority and the public as a priority.

He said: "This is an excellent example of how the authority and the constabulary are working closely together to promote community safety and reassurance."

CSO Charlene Hornsey, a Worthing traffic warden for the past 18 months, is a mentor for young offenders under the Fresh Start Programme.

She will be patrolling in Worthing and said: "I want to liaise with the public and like the fact I will be doing something different every day."

CSO Kim Williams will be meeting the public face to face after seven years in the control rooms at Bognor and Haywards Heath.

Based in Chichester, she said: "I am looking forward to a new challenge and getting my role off the ground."

Littlehampton traffic warden Tyson Pickett will be a CSO based in Worthing and said: "I look forward to working even closer with the officers and being that link between the police and public."

Pete Jennings, a former special constable, will use his sales expertise to promote closer links with the community in Worthing.

He said: "I am very interested in the service the police provides and wish to work closely with them."

Mike Harris, who has worked for eight years as a traffic warden across West Downs, will be patrolling in Chichester.

He said: "I look forward to working outside, meeting members of the community and building a rapport."