THERE is much to be welcomed in the police reforms proposed by the Home Secretary. The creation of community support officers will increase the uniformed presence on our streets.

It is a means to bring back the 'bobby on the beat' as a deterrent to crime. And it is a means of removing the burden of bureaucracy and paperwork which is keeping officers away from the front-line fight against crime.

It appears to represent a more cost-effective use of resources. Restricting this second tier of officers to the minor offences and operations frees up the regular police officers to concentrate on the serious crimes and sophisticated operations they are trained for and paid to tackle.

It is a matter of regret that the Police Federation sees David Blunkett's proposal as an attack on its pay and conditions, and chooses to ignore the benefits the concept offers to both its members and the general public.

Mr Blunkett is to be applauded for having the courage to insist that the police are not beyond reform, which brings them into line with the modern needs of society.

The White Paper does not envisage a vigilante force, meting out justice on every street corner.

We will expect the new patrol officers to have limited powers and limited operational duties, strictly controlled by chief constables.

Local authorities, some in our region, already have community wardens. Most shopping centres and car parks have their own security staff.

Private sector policing is an inescapable fact of life. The police should welcome plans to make it more accountable.

In theory, therefore, the White Paper has much to recommend in it.

In practice, however, it remains to be seen whether the right calibre of people in sufficient numbers will be recruited to fulfill the role Mr Blunkett expects of the civilian officers.

Today, nearly every police force in country is facing a staffing crisis. Forces are struggling to recruit and retain officers.

We will wait with interest to hear how Mr Blunkett intends to recruit, on less favourable terms of pay and conditions than those of regular police ranks, a whole new tier of officers.