BOBBIES from across the globe descended on Hartlepool in a bid to learn more about different policing cultures.
Four high ranking police officers from as far afield as Abu Dhabi, Botswana, Royal St Lucia and Bermuda are in the UK on an intensive four-month course.
Colonel Ali Al Mazrouei, of Abu Dhabi police, assistant commissioner Kedilkilwe Dikgang, of Bot
swana police, superintendent Michael De Silva, of Bermuda police and assistant commissioner Andre Cox, of Royal St Lucia police visited Hartlepool as part of their trip.
The group are in Britain with a group of other officers on a 16-week international commanders' course at centre of excellence Bramshill Police College, near Reading.
As part of the course they spent a week with Cleveland Police Authority and visited Hartlepool to see the tourism hot spots.
Keith Fisher, magistrate member of the Cleveland Police Authority, took them on a tour of Hartlepool.
Mr Fisher said: "Coming to Hartlepool was a bit of a social break from what is an intense course to see how the police do things here.
"This is the fourth year that international officers have visited the Cleveland authority and we involve them in police work during their time here.
"The group also visited Durham Tees Valley airport to see the police helicopter and one of the officers commented that he had eight helicopters in his police force.
"That brings our task of trying to hold onto this region's helicopter into perspective.
"Some of our police methods are new to them and some are not but policing is policing where ever you are, it is just different rules and regulations."
As part of their visit the group went on an early morning visit to Hartlepool Maritime Experience, the Headland and the Marina.
Mr Fisher added: "Hartlepool police station is currently undergoing refurbishment so we didn't make any plans to visit there.
"We did however visit the Historic Quay and they were very impressed with what they saw.
"The staff gave us the full tour, fired the cannons – and even brought out the sun."
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