BOOTS polished, chest puffed, Constable Mohammed Razman stands to attention in formation among his fellow recruits at the Scottish Police College in Tulliallan.

BOOTS polished, chest puffed, Constable Mohammed Razman stands to attention in formation among his fellow recruits at the Scottish Police College in Tulliallan.

Lined regimentally, C division of 192 probationers are taking part in the traditional drill competition which occurs at the end of the 15-week training course at the centre.

It is a far cry from the family takeaway business that 35-year-old Mr Razman used to run in Uddingston, Lanarkshire.

"I was working in a carry-out and had my own takeaway business as well, working with people all my life," he said.

"It was my communication skills I thought I had to my advantage and I wanted to put them to better use.

"I think there is no better job than the police force to do your bit."

After passing an initial three-paper set-up test, Mr Razman faced a series of verbal interviews and fitness exams before being accepted for the course.

Mr Razman is part of an extra large roll of students at the college after the Scottish Government funded a programme to increase police levels by 1000 recruits during 2008 from last year's number of 628.

As a result, the college has had to adapt to the increase in numbers.

Meal times are organised with military precision to ensure everyone is fed, large staff quarters have been converted for students to share and some classes have been held at off-site locations.

However, Mr Razman insists that the disruption has been minimal.

"Of course you recognise the presence of 500 to 600 people, but in the grounds they're making arrangements to accommodate that amount of people," he said.

"We are all like a community, we're very close knit and it's good to feel that way with everyone bonding together."

Duty commences at 9am Monday to Friday and students learn everything from evidence handling and legislation through to participating in drill procedure and a number of physical activities.

"We all help each other through what we're doing, we all encourage each other and that's what motivates us."

Despite efforts to create a multicultural Scottish police force, only around 1% of Tulliallan recruits come from a black, minority or ethnic background.

Mr Razman, whose grandparents came to Scotland from Pakistan in the 1960s, is confident the numbers will improve. "I know for a fact there are a lot of Asian officers coming into the workforce who are joining up simply because of what they've experienced from other people," he said. "There is no barrier at all, so they are starting to come out and join the police."

Today, Mr Razman graduates from Tulliallan into the Strathclyde Police force. It is a day he has been eagerly anticipating.

"My family are coming to see me pass out. I'm really looking forward to it.

"It has been a long 15 weeks and the family will be proud to see me."