New-style policing is being used to fight crime in Banbury.

Two community support officers -- among the first in Thames Valley -- are cracking down on antisocial behaviour on the town's estates.

The two officers, Graeme Gale, 25, left, and Andy Baylis, 24, will focus on offences such as vandalism, under-age drinking and abandoned cars, allowing regular police to focus on serious crime. The CSOs are funded jointly by Oxfordshire County Council, the Home Office and Thames Valley Police.

Mr Baylis said: "We're a new form of policing and hope to make a difference.

We've been out and about for six weeks already and people seem happy to see us around. We make them feel safer."

Mr Gale said: "Perhaps the biggest thing we have come across so far is under-age drinking. We're trying not to have a heavy-handed approach -- it's a matter of building a rapport with people."

Chief Constable Peter Neyroud said: "CSOs provide much-needed visibility in the communities we serve, and can tackle the quality of life issues which affect everyone."

CSOs are uniformed officers who can ask for the name and address of people, seize alcohol from people in non-drinking areas, confiscate alcohol and cigarettes from young people, enter homes to save life, and remove abandoned vehicles.

New legislation wll give them power to issue fixed penalty notices for disorderly behaviour, cycling on pavements, dog fouling, and litter.