Met parades its United Nations

This is the picture that illustrates the multi-national diversity of London's police.

For the first time, foreign nationals from outside the Commonwealth are lining up to patrol the streets of Britain.

They include Americans, Russians, Germans and Finns. Scotland Yard has recruited from countries as far afield as China and Colombia as well as a dozen European nations.

Since the Home Secretary lifted the 170-year-old ban on foreigners serving in the force, the Met now has officers and staff of 37 nationalities.

Among them are Malaysians, Canadians, Indians, Turks, Jamaicans, Australians and Mauritians.

As well as 54 Irishmen, the European contingent includes officers or staff from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, Norway, Switzerland, Poland and Portugal.

Restrictions on nationality were relaxed in February 2003, allowing people from the EC to join for the first time as well as overseas applicants, provided they could prove unqualified residency in Britain.

The wording of the oath to the Queen was also amended. Instead of swearing allegiance to "Our Sovereign Lady The Queen", recruits now swear allegiance simply to "The Queen".

Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said: "This is not just about appearances, it is the fact that people have knowledge of language, cultures and faiths that are vital for criminal investigations and other inquiries.

"This is all about London, a great city that attracts all these nationalities."