A HAGLEY Police Community Support Officer has vowed to ensure young people are a top priority in his new job.

PCSO Sam Maher recently took on a new beat around the village and has been putting his experience as a teacher to good use by visiting schools to talk about his role in the community.

He taught in Hagley for two years before joining the force, following in the footsteps of his uncle who is already an officer with West Mercia Police.

PCSO Maher said: “My aim it to get involved with youngsters at an early age so that we are not potentially encountering them for the first time in their mid-teens before they have had any positive experiences with the police.

“This is the key to breaking down barriers.”

In his spare time PCSO Maher enjoys skiing trips and is also a keen rower.

He achieved success on the national stage as one of the team that won the coxed quads class at the national championships at Nottingham in 2005.