POLICE recruits in Meirionnydd have been wished “health, happiness and success” by their counterparts on an entirely different continent.

A chance encounter via e-mail has led two initial police training courses based 6,000 miles apart wishing each other ‘Pob lwc’ or ‘Tâi-gí’ as they embark upon a career in serving and protecting their respective communities.

North Wales Police recently received correspondence from Cheng-Ling Chang from the Taiwan Police College in Taipei City stating she was a police student currently undergoing basic training at the same time as a similar, although much smaller, course was underway in Dolgellau.

Coincidentally, at the time of initial correspondence both courses were undergoing law exams.

The correspondence led to an exchange of course photographs, both formal and less so, adorned with wishes of good luck and safe and successful careers.

Speaking on behalf of the North Wales Police course lead trainer Andy Jones wished Cheng–Ling and all her colleagues a “long and successful career”.

He also added that if Cheng-Ling ever needed assistance about rural and community-based policing then he would be happy to help out.

Police constable 3260 Elliw Roberts, who is currently studying, said: “I wish Cheng-Ling and all her fellow students all the best and I’m sure like us she’ll be relieved when all the exams are over and we can start really learning the job ‘on the streets’.

“Pob Lwc Cheng-Ling!”

Cheng-Ling returned the team’s best wishes and said: “I wish all the Welsh police constables and students, health, happiness and success in their police careers!”

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online on Thursday