The British Embassy in Tripoli and the International Academy Bramshill have jointly organised a successful sponsored visit for a team of five Libyan forensic experts in areas of Fingerprints, Arson and Fire Investigation, Chemical and DNA laboratories and Crime Scene Management. The group was accompanied by the Embassy's Projects Officer in Tripoli, Mr Ahmed Safar.

During the first couple of days, the delegation visited NPIA's Forensic Centre at Harperley Hall, Durham, where they were met by Shaun Mallinson, Head of Training & Development, and shown different areas of forensic training at the Centre. The delegates visited the fingerprint laboratory and IT database training facility and were impressed by the systems in place. They were also shown the crime scene simulation lab and held discussions with staff on different training modules applied at the Centre and how best to modify training packages to meet Libyan training requirements in the area of forensics. Keith Fryer, Head of Centre, hosted a dinner for the Libyan delegation towards the end of their visit.

For the rest of their visit, the delegates were hosted at NPIA Bramshill and visited the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, LGC Forensics, in Oxfordshire. At LGC the delegates had access to a number of specialised technical departments such as: Marks and Chemical Traces, Biological and Toxicology labs and Drugs and Alcohol. Staff at LGC Forensics explained the way work is carried out in the laboratory and the procedures of workflow. The delegates were also presented with a presentation on Quality Assurance and the role of the quality control manager in Forensic laboratories.

On the last evening of the visit, Chief Superintendent George Cunningham, Head of Operations and Deputy Head, International Academy Bramshill and Ann-marie Ainsbury, International Liaison Officer, hosted the group over dinner and presented them with NPIA souvenirs. It proved to be a good opportunity for exchanging ideas and taking photos.