POLICE chiefs from the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean will get a taste of policing North Yorkshire-style when they visit their counterparts in the county next week.

The six, from Jordan, St Kitts, Rwanda, Syria and the Lebanon, will team up with local officers to patrol the streets of Harrogate, York and Scarborough.

Their visit begins in Harrogate on Monday when they will meet Western Area commander, Chief Superintendent Andy Parker, before visiting Richmond to meet local officers from the town and Catterick Garrison.They will then return to Harrogate to go out on patrol with officers.

On Tuesday, the visitors will be in York to meet Central Area commander, Chief Superintendent John Lacy. They will spend time in the new control room and custody unit at the area's police headquarters in Fulford Road, before going out on patrol.

They will get an insight into the workings of a range of departments at the force's headquarters at Newby Wiske on Wednesday, and on Thursday, will be in Scarborough.

There they will meet Eastern Area commander, Chief Superintendent David Short and other senior officers, before accompanying community beat officer, PC Jez Pratt, on a tour of the town.

Chief Constable Della Cannings said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity of playing host to these officers from overseas. I am sure they will gain a great deal from their visit to North Yorkshire, not only in seeing our policing procedures at first hand and meeting our officers, but also in getting an insight into the way of life around this county."

Updated: 11:10 Friday, March 07, 2003