Community support officer Gemma Bloomfield said she is really enjoying her new role with Malmesbury Police.

Miss Bloomfield, from Chippenham, has now spent two weeks under the guidance of police officers.

While she has no powers of arrest, she can detain suspected criminals, issue fixed penalty notices for parking offences and will add to the police presence on the street.

She said her background in health studies led her to choose a career in the police force.

Miss Bloomfield said: "I wanted to work with the community. I felt a job with the police would be challenging and rewarding.

"Malmesbury people are very personable so my task has been made easier. This is also a beautiful area to be stationed in.

"The response I have had from the local community has been very good. I think the fact I am young goes for me but I think it depends how you treat people. At the moment I find my role very satisfying and as it is a new position I can make the job my own."

The most important quality for her job was good communication skills, said Miss Bloomfield.

To be selected she took part in a rigorous selection process that involved problem solving, team building exercises and several interviews.