ONE is at the frontline of fighting dangerous criminals on the streets of Southampton.

The other is more likely to be issuing tickets to householders who put out their rubbish too early.

But now it is the latter – council staff in Southampton – who are being kitted out with stab vests after fears they are at risk of harm. The council’s 14 city patrol officers will get new uniforms costing £7,000 so they look just like real cops and police community support officers (PCSOs). Council chiefs said they wanted to give them the same protection as PCSOs after several city patrol officers had been assaulted.

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A spokesman said one had been spat at while another had beer poured over them. City patrol vans with CCTV have also been vandalised and pelted with stones. He added: “If people are willing to do that you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The council staff, who previously wore reflective yellow vests, will also get caps, as part of their £500 uniform, to give them a “more professional image”.

The city patrol officers are part of the council’s antisocial behaviour team and work closely with the police, however have no powers of arrest. They work from 8am to 11pm responding to non-emergency calls.

They can demand names and addresses, seize booze and cigarettes from under-age drinkers and smokers, stop cyclists and issue fines of up to £75 for dog fouling and littering. The majority of the incidents they dealt with last year involved “enforcing the peace”, writing up untaxed cars or residents who put their bins out early, or dealing with littering and fly-tipping.

Almost half of the 368 fines they issued in 2007/8 were for cigarettes and other litter thrown from vehicles. Just 11 fines were issued for dog fouling.

The council spokesman denied the new look would confuse the public wanting help from the police.

“The uniforms clearly have ‘City Patrol’ written on them. But if a member of the public has concerns we want them to go up to City Patrol and tell them,” he said, adding they had radios to call for police support .

The new uniforms were paid for out of the council’s “safer communities budget”. The cash comes from a couple of vacancies that had not been filled.

Communities chief Councillor Royston Smith said: “The safety of our City Patrol officers is of paramount concern and their new uniforms demonstrate our commitment to this, giving them the same protection as the police.”