The 40 men and women have been given a collection of more than 1,000 drawings.

The pocket-sized illustrations are held on small cards on their duty belts.

The drawings relate to everyday items and actions. These include items of clothing and luggage.

It is expected that the cards will be mainly used with people who have English as a second language.

But they are also likely to benefit the police's dealings with the very young and very elderly as well as people with disabilities and illnesses that affect communication.

Pocket Comms have been primarily issued to neighbourhood specialist policing teams who work in local communities for a trial period.

Sgt Danny West, of Bognor Regis police station, said: "I saw Pocket Comms being advertised as a product aimed at people travelling abroad attempting to cope with a foreign language barrier.

"I immediately saw the product's potential for police use, particularly in Arun, where there is a significant eastern European community."

The product's inventor, Jim Wyatt, came up with the idea when he served in the army in Afghanistan and was confronted daily with a language barrier.

As an artist, he reached for his sketch pad because he realised pictures are universally understood.



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