Police volunteer to serve in Iraq

Troops are being drafted in to help with day to day security

Twenty officers from the Northumbria Police force have answered a call for volunteers to help restore law and order in Iraq.

They have responded to a national appeal for volunteers to go the Middle East country, still struggling to return to a semblance of normality after the war.

However the officers will only be released if the Northumbria Chief Constable Crispian Strachan approves.

David Raine is chairman of the Northumbria Police Federation, which represents police men and women.

He said the region should be proud of the willingness of North East officers to go and help the Iraqi people.

He said: "Those who have applied will have to go through a rigorous interview process, a medical, and will have to have the skills that are needed out there.

Front line

"It is a tribute to the north-east of England that 20 officers are willing to put themselves in a war-torn area.

"The final decision is with the Chief Constable, and it remains to be seen whether he will just let 20 people leave the front line.

"The Police Authority will also have to be involved in the decision process."

Those that meet the Foreign Office criteria will join a pool of officers and 100 will be deployed to Iraq at any one time.

The UK government recently came under fire for the disintegrating security situation in Iraq, after it announced 1,200 more British troops are to be sent to the region.

Soldiers are currently being used to help with day-to-day security in Iraq, but it is hoped to hand over responsibility in the future to the Iraqi police force.