NEW police recruits are to be given new IDs to identify them as learners.

Greater Manchester Police has become the first provincial police force to give trainee bobbies white ID cards, rather than a traditional blue warrant card, to identify them as officers in training. They will only receive a full warrant card once they have completed their basic training.

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Green said: "A warrant card is something we believe should be earned and when an officer produces it to members of the public, we want them to have had that significant level of training.The new ID card will feature the recruit's name, photo and the words 'trainee police officer'."