Police Scotland has made nearly £1.8m training officers from countries including Pakistan and South Sudan.

The force earns the money through Scottish and UK Government contracts, as well as deals with foreign governments.

Police Scotland has trained officers from forces in Bhutan, Hong Kong, Kenya, the Maldives, Malawi, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Sudan and the United Arab Emirates over the last three years.

The most profitable arrangement was a three-year training programme in Sri Lanka, where Scottish officers helped develop a national police academy. The force was paid £713,646 in return.

Police Scotland made £550,228 for providing public order training ahead of the 2014 Malawi national elections, which were disrupted by widespread protests and violent clashes with police.

A year-long training programme in South Sudan, which earned the force £229,157, was cut short by the Sudanese civil war in 2013.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "This is money which has been earned by the Police Scotland College through contracts issued by the Scottish and UK Governments, as well as foreign governments, which see Police Scotland as a worldwide exemplar in police training.

"All income from these activities goes towards reducing the running costs of Police Scotland."