Palestinian police have made another step towards building a new society by dispatching female officers onto the streets. Police work has traditionally been seen as a men’s work.

But more and more women are joining the force swelling their numbers from the current one in sixty who is female.

“I joined the police force when I was single. My parents encouraged me to do so. As women it’s important that we stand side-by-side our men in the building of our society,” said Rana Khawli, Female Police Force, Tulkaram City.

In addition to directing traffic, the women’s duties also include patrols, house searches and security checks on women in prisons and universities.

The women are also part of an effort to improve the struggling Palestinian police establishment keep order in the West Bank where Hamas militants have been threatening to take over for months.