TWO police chiefs from Malawi have been getting a taste of life on the beat in the Highlands – including a visit to the Cairngorms, where one of them saw snow for the very first time.
Deputy Commissioner Chrissie Ngauma and Superintendent MacLean Muguntta have been based in Badenoch and Strathspey for the past 10 days, learning how the job is done in Scotland.
As a result, the officers, who head back to Africa on Friday, will be taking with them a number of new ideas – including carrying out police briefings to the junior ranks, taking road safety programmes into schools, equipping the service with stun-guns,
smaller training classes for cadet officers and creating a force of special constables.
The pair are visiting the area as part of an exchange programme started by Chief Inspector Andy Walker, who heads the force's Badenoch, Strathspey and Nairn area command.
Last autumn, he swapped his post in Aviemore to cruise crocodile-infested waters and tackle witchcraft and cattle rustlers.
One of the first ports of call for the visiting officers – before the serious work started – was a visit to the high tops of the Cairngorms.
Ms Ngauma, who heads the entire community policing operation in Malawi, said that she had seen snow before while on a visit to Kosovo a few years ago, but it was a first for her colleague.
"It was the first time that I saw snow, and I really enjoyed watching the children playing; some of them who were skiing were just three or four years old," said Mr Muguntta, who heads the country's southern police division. "I could not understand why the children were not cold.
"When it is cold in Malawi it is 12ºC, but in the summer-time in September and October, which are the hottest months, it is often 32ºC. We never get snow."
Among the stopping-off points on their itinerary was a visit to the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan; Inverness' Burnett Road police station, where they sat in on a shift briefing, visited the holding cells and were given a demonstration of a breathalyser; the Scottish Community Safety Conference at Aviemore Highland Resort; and Northern Constabulary's firearms range.
They also held discussions on special constables, and learned about the force's child protection procedures.
They were to be given some tips on policing football matches by attending Scottish Division Two league leaders Ross County's match with Brechin, but that had to be postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
Ms Ngauma said: "We were really impressed with the police briefings, because in Malawi it is only senior officers who meet every morning, but we saw that all the junior officers here are fully briefed at the beginning of their shift by a sergeant.
"This is something we should also do in Malawi."
Mr Muguntta said: "We have also learned about the concept of special constables, and we met an officer who told us how he interacts with the community."
He said that there were many villagers who already helped the police, but there was no formal training or uniform.
They were also fascinated by the Taser stun guns which can be used by Northern Constabulary as an alternative to lethal response at major incidents.
Deputy Commissioner Chrissie Ngauma and Superintendent MacLean Muguntta were guests of honour at a reception at the Aviemore Highland Resort with local community leaders.
"It was very interesting, because in our country we have a lot of demonstrations, so this equipment could assist us with arrests without killing someone."
As in Scotland, there are only a limited number of officers who are armed and can provide a firearms response.
They hope that they can introduce some of the methods they have seen at first hand in the Highlands into the Malawian police force, which has around 7,000 officers.
"The problem, as ever, is funding, but we will try," said Ms Ngauma.
Chief Insp Walker said he was delighted to be hosting the two officers. "It is very much a two-way exchange of information. We were very interested to hear how they conducted their community policing operation."
He added: "Everyone they have met has gone out of their way to give them a good Highland welcome."
Chief Insp Walker was based in Blantyre, which has a population of over 900,000, during his visit to Malawi. The main problems for the police there are robberies, domestic violence and car thefts, which are on the rise. "We have murders, but not at a high rate," said Mr Muguntta.
The strath policeman revealed on his return that villagers in Malawi occasionally take matters into their own hands against those accused of witchcraft and administer summary justice.
However, this was now being discouraged, and police are now regularly informed of people practising 'the craft'.
He was also involved in helping to run an awareness campaign to discourage people from washing their clothes in crocodile-infested waters.
Many have running water in their villages, but washing is a social gathering in-bred for generations. Around 10 people a year die as a result of crocodile attacks.
During his visit, Chief Insp Walker saw at first hand efforts to stop cattle rustling, particularly by raiders from across the border in Mozambique.
Chief Insp Walker is believed to be the first policeman to get involved with an exchange as ties between Malawi and Scotland are strengthened.
His visit came about following a chat with Tim Walker, principal at Glenmore Lodge, who had visited the country, home to 12 million people, in 2006 when the request for police liaisons was made.
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