WEST Devon Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) have said that communication was the key when engaging with the public to keep the town and its surrounding areas safe.

Okehampton PCSOs Marcus Jarvis, Charlie Fewings and Kayleigh Drake met with Times reporter Sally Shipton to discuss their role in the police force.

PCSOs are uniformed staff whose role is to support the work of police officers within the community. Their role is to assist the police in certain areas, acting as the eyes and ears on the streets.

PCSO Jarvis, 29, said: ‘You have to be a good communicator in this job. You have to be confident speaking to people and engaging with the public.

‘As a PCSO, you don’t have anything other than a notepad and a radio, so it’s important to be able to communicate effectively to diffuse situations.’

PCSO Jarvis, who has a degree in sports coaching, previously worked for the Prince’s Trust helping disadvantaged young-sters gain important life skills.

‘Working with young people is certainly an important part of our job. We often visit local schools to educate them about various issues, including anti-social behaviour and internet safety.’

PCSO Fewings, 25, said: ‘I think the biggest and most important part of our job is communicating with the public. We are often the community’s first point of contact.

‘We often get called out to civil disputes between neighbours — it’s important to listen to members of the public and help to resolve situations before they escalate.’

PCSO Fewings, who said she always wanted to be a police officer, hoped to eventually progress through the ranks and become a police constable.

‘As a PCSO you don’t actually have the authority to put anybody under arrest, hence we deal with low-level crime.’

PCSO Drake, 29, added: ‘If a situation requires an arrest we would radio it in and have to wait for a PC.’

She explained that she started the job nine years ago with the intention to progress to the role of a PC, however, since having a child, decided she preferred the role of a PCSO.

‘We work in shifts during the day and don’t work any later then 10pm at night, which is better for me as a mum.’

The three officers said they were always at hand to help the public in anyway they could. PCSO Fewings recalled a time when PCSO Jarvis helped her elderly nan with her shopping bags.

PCSO Fewings said: ‘My nan was struggling with her shopping bags, so Mark stepped in and helped her.’

Pictured are the PCSOs Kayleigh Drake, Charlie Fewings and Mark Jarvis.