MALVERN has been promised new policing arrangements and more community support officers by its new divisional police inspector.

Insp Clive Griffiths outlined the plans in a presentation to Malvern Town Council on Tuesday evening.

The town will be divided up into five local policing teams along council ward lines: Dyson/West, Priory/Wells, Chase, Pickersleigh and Link.

Each area will have a beat officer, who will work closedy with community support officers.

"Malvern currently has two CSOs. By the end of the year, we want a CSO in each of these areas," said Insp Griffiths.

"By the end of the following year, we want at least two CSOs in each area.

"Their main function will be to work with partner agencies to deal with long-term problems."

Insp Griffiths told councillors that the CSOs would be out and about in the community.

"If you don't see them around on foot, you will see them around on bikes," he said.

Coun Malcolm Sneath said he was impressed by a quick police response to a call last Saturday.

He said Avon Close residents had called after seeing youths gathering in the play area with alcohol.

"To their amazement, officers turned up within five minutes. The youths were talked to and dispersed quite amicably," he said.

"In the past it has been two hours before the police have turned up."

Insp Griffiths said that particular area was one the police were keeping an eye on.

He also revealed that crime in Malvern had fallen by six per cent over the last year.

Violent crimes were down seven per cent and burglaries down 17 per cent, he said.