Police community support officers (PCSOs) could soon be patrolling the streets of Hampshire.

This week, the Home Office agreed to fund 25 of the new civilian officers, who will be trained by police and have many of the powers of their regular colleagues.

Hampshire Constabulary originally resisted the plan, but has joined the latest round of grant applications hoping to get funding for 50 of them.

Speaking last month at the AGM of the Hampshire Police Federation, Chief Constable Paul Kernaghan said they had been backed into a corner, whereby they would only get extra government funding if they employed PCSOs.

At the same meeting, members expressed concerns about the scheme. Chairman, Steve Price, said the Home Office was trying to "diffuse the real problem - a lack of fully trained police officers."

The PCSOs are part of the Government's bid to beef up local law enforcement, which has also seen the introduction of community wardens and safety officers.

The scheme will be discussed at today's meeting of the Police Authority. If it gets the OK, the constabulary hope to begin recruiting and selecting over the next two months. All recruits will undergo extensive police training for three months before going on patrol in April.

According to a report to go before the authority, the PCSOs will be deployed in "priority neighbourhoods, when their purpose is to be part of the extended police family, delivering high-visibility reassurance."

Among powers the PCSOs will have will be to stop, search and detain suspects, issue fixed-penalty notices, carry out roadside testing of vehicles, confiscate alcohol and enter and search premises. They will not be issued with batons or CS spray.