THE changing face of policing Northumbria over the past 170 years has been captured on canvas for the first time.

Chief Constable Crispian Strachan has taken delivery of a watercolour which will hang at police headquarters - and 999 prints have been produced for sale to officers and support staff.

The painting reproduces the characters, uniforms and equipment involved in policing the area, from Newcastle Police in 1832 to the present.

It was produced by Blue Lamp Prints, of Hertfordshire, which specialises in historic paintings of police forces.

Artist Mick Ewins worked with Harry Wynne, chairman and historical information officer of the North Eastern Police History Society, to ensure the images were appropriate and technically correct.