The police officer is based in Welshpool

He travelled to the country last summer because of the "changing nature" of communities, said Dyfed-Powys Police.

The force said the officer, based in Welshpool, now felt more confident to "deal with the community", and also helped colleagues with the language.

The move has been welcomed by a Polish businessman in nearby Newtown.

There are an estimated 540 migrant workers in Powys.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the officer started to learn the language before he visited Poland last July.

It is understood he spent time in the city of Krakow, and since returning has been able to use his Polish in the streets of Welshpool.

A force spokeswoman added: "With the changing nature of its communities Powys division took advantage of an opportunity which arose to have an officer from Welshpool learn more about the Polish language and culture by visiting an area in Poland.

Immigrant community

"The officer had previously been involved in learning Polish and now feels more confident in dealing with the community and is also able to assist other staff as well."

Jarek Mydlak, who is originally from Warsaw, helps run two delicatessens in Newtown and Aberystwyth with his two business partners.

He said: "In Welshpool I think there are more than 1,000 Poles so I think it's a good idea for a police officer to learn Polish, although it is a difficult language to master.

"This will help the Poles understand what the police want from them and above all help improve communication between both parties."

The arrival of so many Poles in the UK has led to initiatives such as Wales' first Polish support centre, which opened in Llanelli in 2006.

In north Wales, an estimated 10,000 Poles live in Wrexham , which has prompted the region's police force to consider recruiting Polish-speaking officers.

One of its officers, Pc Keith Sinclair, learned Polish to work with the immigrant community in Wrexham.