A NEW West Yorkshire police team is believed to be the first of its kind in the country.

The Plural Policing Unit has been set up to co-ordinate people working for the force. They include police community support officers, special constables, volunteers and others involved in community safety.

Also included are groups such as councils, education authorities, public transport companies and private and voluntary organisations.

The unit aims to offer support to people who contribute to the force through their work, as well as providing police divisions with extra resources.

Recruitment, training, allocation, funding and liaison with divisions will all be done centrally through the unit.

The unit's head, Chief Insp Shaun Tunstall, said it was a huge challenge.

He added that the force was on target to recruit 200 more community support officers, who would be based in all divisions.

They would improve people's quality of life by tackling anti-social behaviour and also dealing with other worries residents may have.

Chief Insp Tunstall said: "We will also be recruiting more special constables. They make a valuable contribution with their local knowledge and by acting as a link between the police and public."

He also said the force wanted more volunteers. They could support officers in a number of way, such as Neighbourhood Watch liaison and being members of crime prevention panels.

Chief Insp Tunstall added: "The new unit isn't just about improving co-ordination from a central point. It is also about supporting people who give their time to make their communities safer places to live in."

The head of the force's Community Safety Department, Det Chief Supt Grahame Bullock, said the unit had been formed because many police tasks could be done by non-police officers.

He added that many individuals and organisations had a huge contribution to make in helping to create a safer society.

The unit would serve as a focal point to help members of the force and civilian helpers of all types - known as "the extended police family" - to work together to make sure that the West Yorkshire force delivers the best possible service to the community, said Det Chief Supt Bullock.