THE Cold War thaw is not for the PCs of Hereford's High Town beat. They are thinking of having cards printed in Russian explaining rights when under arrest to shoplifting seasonal workers from the former Soviet bloc.

It is often at the moment of arrest that such light-fingered visitors forget any understanding of English, said team leader Sgt Tim Powell.

Though the Iron Curtain has long since been drawn back, Russian remains a language common to the hundreds of Eastern Europeans nationals that arrive in the county each summer.

This year, 25 of them were sent back home for stealing - admittedly a small minority of their normally law-abiding number, but enough to consider bringing in the cards next summer, said Sgt Powell.

There has even been a proposal for Shoplifters will be Prosecuted signs in Russian on the doors of their favourite stores.

Those few that do steal run a big risk. Employers take a firm line that usually sees thieves - or any others involved in illegal activity, they are sacked and sent home.

But Sgt Powell does admit to a certain sympathy for those Eastern Europeans that his team catches.

Often, he says, they steal towards the end of their stay - tempted by what they see in High Town compared to shops back home - and they take presents for family and friends.

Most get a caution if caught doing so. The cards would explain exactly what is happening at the moment of arrest, says Sgt Powell.

Once they reach custody, a translator from Herefordshire Technical College is rarely more than 10 minutes away and there is access to a 24-hour language line telephone link.

l Shoplifting in Hereford city centre has dropped this year, with the High Town team making arrests in 80% of reported offences.