FIVE new police constables have started their beats in Darlington.

The new recruits have completed their 12 weeks of classroom based training and have spent a further 12 weeks on probation, working alongside a senior officer, and now serve as police constables with the Darlington Neighbourhood Policing Team.

PC Chris Smith, a former police community support officer (PCSO), patrols the Cockerton area. The 33-year-old worked as a volunteer special constable in Shildon for three years before becoming a PCSO in the North Road area of Darlington.

“I absolutely love it, there isn’t another job like it,” he said. “You could turn the corner and be faced with absolutely anything.”

PC Liam Robertson, 27, patrols the Skerne Park area and worked as a PCSO in Cockerton before training as a police constable.

He said: “I really enjoy the community work, getting out there and getting to know the community you are serving.”

The central and Albert Hill areas will be patrolled by PC Stacey Wood. The 24-year-old worked as front counter staff at Darlington Police Station for two years and later served as a PCSO.

“When you solve something that has been bothering people for a long time and you use intelligence that has been put forward it is a really good feeling,” she said.

PC Piers Hammond worked as a detention officer in York for North Yorkshire Police before joining Darlington police. The 26-year-old now patrols the Firthmoor area.

He said: “I always wanted to become a police officer. I love getting out there and meeting the people we are serving.”

They are joined by PC Shannon Foley who patrols the town centre. The 26-year-old studied criminology at the University of Liverpool before being recruited as a police constable.

She said: “I’ve always wanted to be a police officer. It’s the whole expecting the unexpected part of it I love; you never know what is going to happen from one day to the next.”

Chief Inspector Chris Reeves, neighbourhood policing manager for the town, said: “We are lucky in that we are in a position in Durham police where, because of decisions made a few years ago, we are now able to recruit new officers when some forces are perhaps not able to.

“The new recruits are all an excellent calibre and I am confident they are going to make brilliant officers.”