NEW staff will again be added to Bolton’s police force in a bid to make the borough safer.

Another five neighbourhood police officers will be allocated to areas across Bolton.

In March, The Bolton News reported there would be 10 new neighbourhood police officers joining the borough — five of whom had already started, and five of whom were due to commence employment in April this year.

Now it has emerged that a further five officers will be added to the teams.

Plans for additional policing staff came to light during a full meeting of Bolton Council last week.

The locations where the new officers are due to be stationed will be decided during the recruitment and training process, and will be based on factors such as threats and current vacancies.

Cllr Nadim Muslim, who represents Bromley Cross ward, told the council: “I can confirm that Bolton will have an added five police officers to our neighbourhood establishment.

Greater Manchester Police are yet to determine precisely where they will be posted, as this will be completed during the recruitment and training phase, but I can today assure elected members that the officers will be allocated to neighbourhood policing to work in the community.

“The decision as to exactly which geographical areas they will be posted in will be taken based upon a number of factors including: known threats, current vacancies and the demand profile being developed with the wider partnership in support of the Vision 2030 Neighbourhoods priority.”

It follows Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s announcement in February this year that the policing element of council tax would rise by £24 per year for a Band D household.

The increase will enable Greater Manchester Police to recruit 320 additional police officers throughout 2019 to strengthen its neighbourhood teams.

The introduction of new neighbourhood officers means more PCs on the streets, but the police also want to use the chance to reconnect with the public.

Superintendent Rick Jackson of Greater Manchester Police's Bolton district, said the extra officers would mean being able to work more closely with the wider community partnership.

He said: "It's a really positive step forward for the borough to have an additional five neighbourhood officers that will be working in the local community."

Cllr Muslim said at full council: “I can confirm that no other local authority receives more officers than Bolton in Greater Manchester, other than the city of Manchester itself.

“The total additional police officers from the precept across Greater Manchester comes to 50.”