The Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are to tackle anti-social behaviour under the national Home Office scheme.

Of the North West forces, 72 officers in Lancashire will have limited police powers to detain suspects.

In Greater Manchester and Merseyside a further 200 officers will be recruited, although they will not have detention powers.

Public demand for a visible uniformed patrol has never been greater

Ian Seabridge, Greater Manchester Police

The officers, who will be paid £12,000 - £14,000 year, are to be phased in over two years.

The first PCSOs went on patrol in London on Monday, and forces across the country are recruiting officers.

Chief Constable Paul Stephenson, of Lancashire Constabulary, said the force would be one of the first to adopt the scheme.

"Public demand for a visible uniformed patrol has never been greater.

"[This] will provide us with additional capacity to meet this demand," he said.

Two neighbourhoods in Merseyside will be the focus for CPSO patrols, and like officers in Greater Manchester they can issue fixed-penalty notices for offences such as disorder.

'Little merit'

"[They] will be carefully assessed to measure [their] impact and future potential for the rest of the region," said a spokesman.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Seabridge, of Greater Manchester Police, said although the force's CPSOs will also not have detention powers, their work would benefit communities.

He said: "[They will] work visibly in local neighbourhoods and assist the police in reducing the fear of crime."

Earlier this year the Association of Chief Police Officers criticised the scheme, however, saying it was of "little merit" to police work.