AN extra 100 bobbies are to go on the beat in Glasgow in a return to hard-edged community policing.

AN extra 100 bobbies are to go on the beat in Glasgow in a return to hard-edged community policing.

Steve House, the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police, today promised the new army of constables would provide "in your face policing".

The move is in response to an overwhelming plea from city residents.

The new community officers - costing almost £2.5million - will mean each of 10 areas in the city will get 10 new local bobbies.

Mr House told MSPs he was not suggesting a "bunch of Robocops locking people up all the time".

But, he said, community cops would be pulling back from community education and diversionary projects, such as five-a-side football, to concentrate on frontline policing.

Despite Mr House's comments, some community policing projects involving diversionary tactics have been seen to help.

The Evening Times reported yesterday that a mobile football pitch in East Renfrewshire had helped slash crime and anti-social behaviour by 50%.

But Mr House said he believed it was the job of other agencies to be involved in education and diversionary activities.

He did not expect officers "paid for by the public" to be getting sponsorship for balls and nets or hiring halls for football tournaments.

"We are looking for them to be hard-edged, problem-solving officers," he said. "I am not looking for them wandering around nodding to the public that like them all the time.

"I also want them in the faces of people who do not want to see more cops. We are looking at quite a hard-edged model of policing."

The Scottish Government's Fairer Scotland Fund paid money to 10 Local Community Planning Partnership boards that approved a total of almost £1million for the officers next year.

The overarching Glasgow Community Planning Partnership added an extra £1.46m in funding for 2008-2009.

Strathclyde Police has 586 community officers, which will rise to 1000 by the end of the year and 1200 by 2011. The 100 announced today are part of that commitment.

Councillor Jim Coleman, chairman of the partnership, said the move came after a survey of 10,000 residents, who overwhelmingly called for more police on the street.

He said: "Our goal was to prioritise what residents wanted to see improved; the 100 new community officers is just the start.

"These 10 areas decided themselves to put money up for officers. Community planning has allowed that to happen.

"People just want to see a police presence in their area. Fear of crime is usually higher than actual crime and seeing officers reassures people."

Councillor John Mason, SNP group leader, said community policing has worked in many areas and residents know who their local officers are.

He said: "People do not want to see police in cars or in offices. They prefer to see officers out doing clear police work, but also relating to schools and other organisations, without a huge amount of bureaucracy.

"Bobbies on the beat are out solving crime, acting as a deterrent and that leads to confidence in the community."

The change of direction outlined by Mr House followed an admission yesterday by his colleague Chief Superintendent Anne McGuire to the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee that community policing had been a catalogue of failures.

She said a survey two years ago showed that most people "didn't know they had a community police officer, never mind who that was".

WHICH AREAS BENEFIT?

BAILLIESTON, SHETTLESTON AND GREATER EASTERHOUSEPopulation 77,838 (13% of city). Split into six neighbourhoods: Ruchazie and Garthamlock; Easterhouse; Baillieston and Garrowhill; Mount Vernon and East Shettleston; Tollcross and West Shettleston; and Springboig and Barlanark.

GOVAN AND CRAIGTON

Population 61,504 (11% of city), including six neighbourhoods: Ibrox and Kingston; Greater Govan; Bellahouston, Craigton and Mosspark; North Cardonald and Penilee; Crookston and South Cardonald; Corkerhill and Pollok.

GREATER POLLOK, NEWLANDS/AULDBURN

Population 53,852 (9% of city). Split into six neighbourhoods: Pollok; Newlands and Cathcart; Pollokshaws and Mansewood; Priesthill and Househillwood; Arden and Carnwadric; and South Nitshill and Darnley.

POLLOKSHIELDS AND SOUTH SIDE CENTRAL

Population 49,434 (9% of city). Split into six neighbourhoods: Pollokshields West; Pollokshields East; Greater Gorbals; Shawlands and Strathbungo; Toryglen; and Govanhill.

LANGSIDE AND LINN

Population 51,700 (9% of city). Split into six neighbourhoods: Langside and Battlefield; King's Park and Mount Florida; Cathcart and Simshill; Croftfoot; Castlemilk; Carmunnock.

MARYHILL, KELVIN AND CANAL

Population 57,800 (10% of city population). Split into five neighbourhoods - Lambhill and Milton; North Maryhill and Summerston; Ruchill and Possilpark; Kelvindale and Kelvinside; Maryhill Road Corridor.

GLASGOW NORTH EAST

Population 42,021 (7% of the city population). Split into five neighbourhoods - Springburn; Sighthill, Roystonhill and Germiston; Blackhill and Hogganfield; Balornock and Barmulloch; Robroyston and Millerston.

CENTRAL AND WEST

Population 76,973 (13% of city population). Split into six neighbourhoods: City Centre and Merchant City; Yorkhill and Anderston; Hillhead and Woodlands; Broomhill and Partick West; Hyndland, Dowanhill and Partick East; and Anniesland, Jordanhill and Whiteinch.

WEST

Population 56,987 (10% of the city population). Split into five neighbourhoods - Yoker and Scotstoun; Knightswood; Temple and Anniesland; Blairdardie; and Drumchapel.

EAST CENTRE AND CALTON

Population 49,718 (9% of city population). Split into five neighbourhoods - Dennistoun; Haghill and Carntyne; Riddrie and Cranhill; Parkhead and Dalmarnock; Calton and Bridgeton.