SENIOR police officers from the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean were given a behind-the-scenes insight into policing in York when they visited the city.

York's police commander Chief Superintendent John Lacy hosted the six officers, from Jordan, St Kitts, Rwanda, Syria and the Lebanon, when they visited Central Area's headquarters in Fulford Road yesterday.

The visitors spent time in the new control room and custody unit at Fulford Road, before going out on patrol with officers.

The six made their visit to North Yorkshire Police as part of an international commanders' course they are attending at the Centrex National Police Training College, in Hampshire.

They visited police officers in Harrogate and Richmond on Monday and were due to tour a range of departments at the force's headquarters at Newby Wiske today. Tomorrow they will be in Scarborough.

Updated: 10:11 Wednesday, March 12, 2003