RAWALPINDI, Dec 8: The US police experts have started training Pakistani police officers in community policing, an official source said.

Police officers of the rank of ASP from all over the country are attending the two-week training programme in Islamabad during which they will be taught modern techniques and methods of community policing.

He said police officers participating in the programme have been divided into two batches. The capital police had already launched 'neighbourhood policing' to bring down crime rate in the federal capital.

Under the new scheme called 'car safety plan and safe home', the capital police have been distributing 'survey forms' for collecting information about housemaids and servants and the number of people who were using security alarms in their vehicle and at their homes.

Under the new scheme, all sectors have been divided into sub-sectors and police teams formed for each sector. Each team will comprise one SI or ASI, a head constable and four constables.

The team will work in local neighbourhoods and will focus on priorities of the local community. Neighbourhood police teams will stay in their sectors to become familiar with the local people. This move will stem crime in the federal capital and bridge the gap between police and public, a senior police official said.