POLICE from Romania have been pounding the beat in Greater Manchester.

High-ranking officers from Bucharest are on an exchange visit to see how police in the region fight crime and work with the community.

The police service in Romania is undergoing a period of modernisation and officers were invited to spend time in Greater Manchester.

It follows a four-month visit by Chief Insp Nick Phillips, from the Trafford division, who went to Romania to advise and to direct the demilitarisation of the police force.

He has put together policing policies on several crime and order issues and has written a community policing guide for the Romanians.

The Romanian police service was demilitarised last year and it has been working hard to gain the public's trust. During their week-long stay, the officers visited community projects in Trafford and looked at how police in Oldham addressed community issues following riots in the town.

Chief Insp Phillips said: "Romania is a country that has undergone some massive social changes over the last decade.

"We have been using our experience to help the European Union to re-shape the Romanian police and are working with them to build a modern force that is open and accountable to the people it serves."