ONE of the newest bobbies on the streets of Lancashire believes more members of the minority ethnic communities should join the force.

PC Mustaq Patala, 23, is backing a national police recruitment campaign launched today by the Home Secretary Jack Straw, MP for Blackburn with Darwen.

The Home Secretary has set tough targets for Lancashire Police to recruit staff from minority ethnic communities, an increase from 39 to 165 by 2010, and the Government recently announced the force was to get an 100 extra officers on top of the 126 extra officers announced last year.

PC Patala was born and brought up in Blackburn and attended Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School before gaining a research scholarship as a scientist/assistant at Shell. He studied chemical engineering at London University.

Now in his first week as a bobby on the beat in Rawtenstall he said: "My entry into the police was unorthodox with the scientific background but I am sure I shall have no regrets.

"I have lived in Lancashire all my life and I have seen the problems involving drugs and juvenile nuisance.

"I wanted to do something to help fight those problems and decided to join the police where every day is different and provides you with something more challenging."

He said: "My family are very proud that I am in the police and I am now trying to persuade my brother who is still at university that it might be a good idea for him also.

"I would like to be a role model for others with an ethnic minority background."

PC Patala added: "I have now been in the police for more than a year. I am really enjoying myself. After my training I have now been let loose on the streets by myself.

The recruitment campaign was launched today with a national advertisement campaign targeting people aged between 23 and 33 but with women and ethnic minorities as a focus for particular attention.

The campaign hopes to fill 9,000 extra police places in England and Wales over the next three years.

Mebs Ahmed, who works in the force's recruitment department, said: "Lancashire Constabulary is committed to providing to a fair police force for all sections of the community in Lancashire.

"At present the minorities are under represented in the police service and are aim is to put that situation right.

"We want to show people that gender or coming from an ethnic minority background is not a barrier for those seeking a career in Lancashire Constabulary."

An applicants' hotline has been set up and people who ring 0845 6083000 will be asked a set of basic questions.

Potential recruits can also apply via the internet by logging on to www.lancashire.police.uk where a form can be down loaded on to a computer. PC Patala gives directions to shopper Josephine Ashall