MEMBERS of the new neighbourhood policing teams were meeting and greeting the public today in preparation for going on the beat.

Representatives from all seven of the Trowbridge police teams, which go live on Monday April 23, were outside the Shires Shopping Centre to show their faces and ask people about their concerns over crime and anti-social behaviour.

Throughout the day shoppers and passers-by stopped to chat, and many filled in forms, highlighting what they feel are the major issues in their area.

Pc Sean Brady, beat manager for Trowbridge town centre, said: "Today has gone very, very well and we've had a very good response.

"I reckon we must have spoken to at least 70 people and a lot of them have filled in forms or taken them away to fill in and show us what they think are the major problems.

"We've had quite a lot of people telling us about things we expected such as nuisances with children, litter and dog mess, but other things we were not expecting like drug taking.

"The key to this type of policing is public involvement, and we have had that today."

Each neighbourhood policing team is headed by a community beat manager, who is a police constable, and he or she will co-ordinate a dedicated team of police community support officers (PCSOs).

Helen Webb, 41, of Studley Green, Trowbridge, who stopped to talk to members of the police teams, said: "Where I live there are problems with noise, drunks and people riding motorbikes everywhere, so this (community policing) is something I would like to see and I think it will be alright."

New police teams in Bradford on Avon and Melksham were also meeting the public today, at the Sainsbury's stores in the two towns.