GWENT Police are being accused of wasting money by employing new community support officers instead of those with full police powers.

Chief Constable Keith Turner wants more funding for up to 400 extra police staff to cope with an increase in crime in Gwent.

And he says his decision to give the public back their bobby on the beat - as revealed in yesterday's Argus - means officers will be diverted from more serious crime issues because he does not have enough staff. But George Appleby, secretary of Gwent Police Federation, said: "Obviously we support calls for more officers, but we feel money is being wasted at the moment on intermediate measures such as the PCSOs (police community support officers) and that it should go towards full-time police officers with full police powers."

Gwent's assistant chief constable, Bill Horne, told the Argus: "While we understand the view of representatives within the Police Federation in respect of the financing of police community support officers, we will continue to deploy these officers across Gwent.

"At the present we are in receipt of additional government funding to support their employment, and that funding cannot be used to employ more regular police officers.

"We have consistently stated that we require more regular police officers within Gwent, but in the absence of additional resources from central government to achieve that aim we will use whatever means are at our disposal to enhance public reassurance through the provision of visible patrol."

Gwent is to get 50 PCSOs in all. Their main duty is high- profile foot patrols, and their powers include confiscating alcohol and cigarettes from young persons and seizing vehicles being used to cause alarm.

Mr Appleby backed the decision to give every council ward in Gwent a dedicated bobby on the beat, adding: "It was a good idea 30 years ago and it still is."

Monmouth MP Huw Edwards also supported the move.

"Mr Turner makes his judgements about the most appropriate use of his resources and I'm very happy to support him in calling for the additional resources he needs to both fight serious crime and maintain a visible police presence."