RASTA COPS JOIN POLICE PATROLS

BIRMINGHAM, England -- Beat bobbies in central England are patrolling the
streets with unlikely partners -- a group of Rastafarians called peace
officers.

The 'rasta cops' wear tea cosy hats instead of helmets and have no power of
arrest but are working to make the streets of Handsworth, Birmingham -- the
scene of race riots in 1985 - safer.

And their presence is helping to defuse tensions between the mostly white
police force and the predominantly black community.

Peace officer Clive Asher said: "We work with the police. Our aim is to
maintain and make peace and build good relations in the community between
the police and the community."

The rasta peace officers -- from the Haile Selassie Peace Foundation --
consider themselves community role models and preach the importance of a
moral life... based on the bible.

Police Sergeant Tim Thurlow said: "(People) perhaps have a little bit more
trust and confidence in the police when they see a member of their own
community is witnessing everything and making sure the police officers are
carrying out their duties in an appropriate way."

Despite the good relations between rasta and officer some issues remain
including the thorny issue of marijuana.

Asher says: "We understand that marijuana is the rastaman's sacrament."

Thurlow says: "We are never going to agree on everything but the positives
outweigh such issues as smoking a piece of cannabis."

In a community that has to deal with teenage gangs, an increase in
immigrant refugees, racial tensions and hardcore drug dealing, the police
admit they need as much help as they can get.

And the teaming up of easygoing Rastas and stiff-backed bobbies, while not
a likely pairing, does seem to be working.

The crime statistics are down...but more importantly it has promoted the
idea that the police are there to protect the community and not intimidate it.