POLICE chiefs from three continents have been to Dorset for expert training.

Commanders from Botswana, Bahrain, the Cayman Islands, Oman, the Bahamas and Bangladesh took part in a three-day visit to the county.

As part of the visit the group patrolled the streets of Weymouth and Dorchester and had a close look at police headquarters in Winfrith.

The International Commanders Programme (ICP) allows officers to observe all aspects of British policing methods.

Visitors were shown how the Dorset force deals with public order issues, road policing, collision investigations, air support work, dog training and firearms training.

Chief Inspector Rick Dowell, head of operations tactical group, said: "It was a pleasure for us to play host to our guests from various parts of the world, and to demonstrate technology, skills and resources of the specialist operations departments of Dorset Police.

"The commanders gained considerable benefit from their visit to the operations division and will no doubt take a great deal of knowledge back to their native forces."

The international commanders are in the UK for a 10-week training programme at the National Police Training Centre at Bramshill.

During the trip they have taking up attachments with specialists in custody, communications, covert policing and station management.

They have also looked at how the force deals with the rural and urban areas.

Superintendent Colin Searle, western division commander, said: "This is a great opportunity for us to share knowledge and our experiences of policing.

"Part of their time in western Dorset included working with our safer neighbourhood teams to give an insight into neighbourhood policing and how we work with our partners and communities.

"It's an honour to have been selected as a host force."

Superintendent Wendell Deveaux of the Royal Bahamas Police Service and Superintendent Peter Ntaya Tshepo of the Botswana Police Service were among the group.

They were joined by a tutor, Senior Superintendent Jocelyn Cheung of the Hong Kong Police, to join Dorchester officers on a walk through the county town.

PC Kevin House, who is Dorchester Safer Neighbourhood Team Leader, said: "They enjoyed walking through Dorchester and they certainly got a few glances their way.

"It's good to meet police officers from overseas and find out how they work. At the end of the day we are all enforcing laws. In Botswana, one of the policing problems they deal with is poaching from game reserves. We deal with poaching too, although it tends to be deer, not big game."

Also on patrol through Dorchester were Police Community Support Officer Mark Wodarek-Black and Special Constable Chris Meade.