LANCASHIRE Police are revving up the battle against crime -- by twinning with the force made famous by a TV motorbike cop show.

The initiative is seen as a valuable way for each force to learn new crime prevention techniques.

But the new relationship with San Diego Police Department in California, home of the famous cop series CHiPS, has also stirred memories of the action-packed series, which ended in 1983 after 138 episodes.

A conference was staged in the Southern Californian county last November and was such a success that a twinning arrangement is now being developed.

In CHiPS (California Highway Patrols), John Baker and Frank Poncherello chased crooks in dramatic motorbike chases to a funky disco soundtrack.

San Diego's real-life tasks are more mundane, but just as effective, and include:

900 police volunteers, who provide services such as counselling, forensic examinations, directing traffic and beat patrols.

Community support officers, which Lancashire first received late last year, who have been at its disposal since the late 1970s. Many are from ethnic minorities and carry out race relation work.

Every patrol vehicle being fitted with computers to enable records to be checked quickly.

A successful multi-agency domestic violence unit and an aim to engage local communities to solve street crime.

Dr Ruth Henig, Lancashire Police Authority chairman said she had never seen or heard of the CHiPS series but was very excited at the benefits both Lancashire and San Diego police forces could get out of the twinning.

One volunteer scheme run by San Diego police involves hundreds of pensioners helping the police and could be introduced in Lancashire. Dr Henig, who has been to visit the San Diego police department, said: "We are very excited about it. San Diego carry out the same sort of policing. It is very much community-based, problem-solving and intelligence-driven, which is very similar to ourselves.

"We have similar philosophies. They are very much in the community and San Diego is a city but has roughly the same population as Lancashire."

More than 700 retired people in San Diego volunteer at least 12 hours a month to doing police tasks such as manning front desks and taking fingerprints.

Another volunteer scheme they run involves closer ties with volunteers aged 18 to 30, who want police work experience for their CVs. "These are two schemes that we are already looking to try and develop over here," Dr Henig said. And she added that the twinning was mutually beneficial.

She said San Diego officials were interested in Lancashire's strategic planning techniques, systems that measure performance and anti-terrorist techniques.