The technology may be more advanced and the patrol cars better equipped, but the skills of successful policing are the same in Pakistan as they are in Bradford.

Six officers from Mirpur arrived in the city on an exchange visit. And their first job was to join bobbies from Toller Lane on the beat.

The four male and two female officers from Azad Kashmir have already studied baton skills and advanced driving.

But building links with local communities is where they feel most comfortable.

The partnership is aimed at strengthening links with the two districts and sharing best practice - not least in the recruitment of female and ethnic minority officers.

The delegation includes two female officers - Nokhez Akhtar and Zaitoon Bibi - who see themselves as positive role models for youngsters in Pakistan.

Zaitoon has already won promotion to the rank of Sub-Inspector, and her ambition is to climb to the very top. The 26-year-old, who has served in Azad Kashmir for five years, says the most striking difference has been the experience of working in a mixed police station. She said: "We work in all-female stations, so there is plenty of opportunity to progress to the higher ranks.

"One of the things I've noticed during my time in West Yorkshire is that there are very few Asian female officers, but I am hopeful things will change."

During their stay, the group will study Information Technology - particularly the Internet - while others will be on attachment to CID and the traffic division.

Sub Inspector Irfan Salim said: "There are many differences to policing in Pakistan and Bradford - not least the technology.

"We have very basic computer systems, which limits the work we can do. And we may only have one vehicle per station in good working order. But the principles of policing are the same." The delegation will also spend time with the district's domestic violence units.

Sub-Inspector Salim said: "There is a big domestic violence problem in Pakistan, but it tends to be sorted out within families. People are very reluctant to contact the police." Bradford community and race relations officer Inspector Martin Baines said the visit would be of benefit to both communities and would allow police in the Bradford district to exchange information on serious crimes.

He said: "We are trying to give them a picture of policing in West Yorkshire, but we can also learn from each other."

Inspector Baines will be heading a delegation of officers from West Yorkshire who are visiting Azad Kashmir next week.

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