THREE new East Hampshire District Council funded community police officers could open the door for more such appointments.

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) Kieran Rogers, Wade Hicks and Dean Muhammed will work in the Petersfield, Bordon, and Alton areas respectively.

They will work solely in East Hampshire, and be paid by the council, which can request they deal with issues raised by residents.

And if the three-year scheme, which will cost the council £280,000, is a success the authority says it would consider funding more PCSOs.

Council leader Cllr Ferris Cowper said: “By funding these officers to work exclusively in the district, we will be providing further support for our local police, while giving the council the capacity to focus on issues that affect East?Hampshire residents.

“This is a unique and innovative project, and as such there is an element of it being a pilot scheme.

“If it is a success I would be comfortable about it expanding with more officers.”

East?Hampshire chief inspector Beth Pirie said: “The PCSOs will be managed in the same way as their colleagues and will be able to undertake duties for the council.”