A private from 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment works with an Iraqi policeman as part of security operations around Basra, June 2004

Digital photograph taken by Warrant Officer 2nd Class Giles Penfound, Army Media Operations, Operation TELIC, 30 June 2004.

While the Iraqi holds an AK47 assault rifle the British soldier is carrying a Para Minimi, a shortened version of the Belgian 5.56 mm mini machine gun.

Soldiers of 6 Platoon 'B' Company, provided multiple patrols around the Local Government headquarters building in Basra to protect against possible attacks from militants, on what should have been the first day of Iraqi Independence.

The patrols started at 06:45 in the morning and lasted for the whole day with soldiers supporting the local Iraqi police force. With the exception of normal criminal activity it was a very quiet day and failed to live up to the dire expectations of some. As a result of their aggressive patrolling attacks on their base location decreased during their tour of duty.