POLICE chiefs and front line officers across the region closed ranks last night against plans for a new breed of civilian patrol officer.

The measure, a key part of Home Secretary David Blunkett's police reform Bill, could see community support officers (CSOs), with the power to detain suspects, on the streets by the end of the year.

They would also be able to hand out on-the-spot fines for a range of offences, seize vehicles and demand a person's name and address.

Sergeant Terry Corrigan, chairman of the Durham branch of the Police Federation, said that officers feared that the CSOs would not be adequately trained to do the job.

He said: "This is being rushed through by David Blunkett with indecent haste, and is a retrograde step.

"CSOs may only be there to deal with minor incidents but, as any police officer will tell you, it is never quite as straightforward as that, as they can quickly turn into major incidents."

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Garvin, of Durham Police, said the force was already working closely with existing community wardens in Sedgefield and Darlington.

There were concerns, however, about the practicalities and potential dangers of giving the CSOs power to detain suspects.

He said: "We are looking very closely at this, particularly in view of extending the powers of community officers.

"We need to be convinced that this would be practical as they would not have the support and back-up that uniformed officers have."

A force spokesman said there were "lots of questions" to be answered over the CSOs, but it would be taking a positive approach over the reform, in a bid to make it work.

The final decision on how CSOs will be introduced will lie with individual chief constables.