A new postgraduate course which aims to help UK police officers working with foreign peace operations has been launched by a Scottish university.

About 200 officers are currently stationed abroad on peace keeping missions in countries such as Bosnia, Kosovo, Jordan, Sudan and Sierra Leone.

The Stirling University course aims to build on training given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Topics include international conflict and working with communities.

The postgraduate certificate in international policing has been backed by the Scottish Police College, as well as the FCO.

Course director Richard Dockrell said of the distance learning course: "Officers will examine politics, power, value systems and attitudinal differences towards policing.

"Through this, we hope to bolster their leadership skills and teach them techniques for managing stressful situations."

Scottish Police College director Margaret Barr said: "UK police officers deployed on peace support operations play a vital role in re-establishing law and order and help to bring stability to communities that have often been blighted by conflict.

"This qualification will go a long way to recognising and rewarding their efforts."