A TAUNTON police community support officer (PCSO) has been thanked for her service as she leaves to start training to become a constable.

Amy Borthwick has been a PCSO in the county town's central neighbourhood team for four years.

In that time, she has tutored five other PCSOs, led problem-solving missions and worked on the Safer Streets Campaign.

A Taunton Neighbourhood Policing spokesperson said: “Today, we said goodbye to PCSO Amy Borthwick.

“Amy has been a PCSO for four years and has spent all of that time as part of the Taunton Central Neighbourhood team.

“During that time, she has been a vital part of the team, leading on problem-solving for various persistent problems, the lead officer for licensing and most recently working with businesses and licensed premises as part of the Safer Streets Campaign.

“In that time, she has also managed to squeeze in tutoring five PCSOs when they finished their training at training school, and also featured in the first ever Neighbourhood Policing Facebook Live in the country during the first Covid Lockdown.

“Amy will be starting her police constable training for Avon and Somerset Constabulary next week.

“I think it's fair to say that Amy will be massively missed by us all.”

Somerset County Gazette: PCSO Amy and her police colleagues.PCSO Amy and her police colleagues.

PCSOs are responsible for reducing crime and providing “a visible and reassuring presence” in their neighbourhoods.

Their roles include offering advice on crime prevention, dealing with anti-social behaviour, working with businesses and community leaders, issuing fixed penalty notices, and speaking to victims or people who may be vulnerable to offer them advice.