SCOTTISH police officers are being drafted into provide specialist training to colleagues almost 6,000 miles away in Malawi who are struggling to cope with a sudden surge in violent crimes.

Police Scotland is to second up to 10 officers annually over the next three years to tackle gender violence and improve child protection exacerbated by a prolonged flooding crisis in the east African country.

The officers will mentor Malawian police in 10 of the areas worst hit by severe flooding and food insecurity in the south of the country.

Women and children in these areas are said to be more vulnerable to abuse from men who demand sex in return for food, shelter or other vital supplies.

The Scottish Government will provide £660,000 for the three-year project to 2019 as part of its long-term response to the current food insecurity crisis in Malawi.

The announcement comes during the nationwide 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence campaign.

According to recent assessments by the Malawian Government, the prevailing poverty, disasters and displacements, lack of livelihoods have escalated the number of gender violence incidences.

It claims sex for food cases have been widely reported, with some women and girls abused in exchange for a passage to safer zones by local water transport owners during floods, while community organisations established to deal with the crisis have also reportedly turned out exploitative.

The situation is made worse and more easier to exploit with men leaving their families without household protection and claims the situation is

having a direct impact on HIV transmission rates.

International Development Minister Alasdair Allan said: “In the last couple of years Malawians have endured the worst flooding the country has seen for more than half a century. Many people have died, communities have been displaced, families separated and crops washed away.

"In the midst of a major food insecurity crisis, women and children have found themselves vulnerable to abuse from those keen to exploit their need for food and shelter, and incidences of violence against women and children have risen. The Scottish Government and Police Scotland are determined to do all we can to help."

The project will involve up to ten police officers per year each spending between two and four weeks in Malawi. The timescales will be staggered and specialist officers from across Scotland will take part.

Superintendent Shaun McKillop, who leads Police Scotland’s International Development Unit, said: “This project builds on the training and support we have provided to the Malawi Police Service over a number of years and will help to make a real difference to communities,particularly women and children. It will strengthen our own officers’ resilience and improve their understanding of the challenges and difficulties faced by others.

“Police Scotland, and its legacy forces, is viewed as a worldwide exemplar of law enforcement training and has been providing international assistance and police training since 1993.

"All the training we do supports both the UK and Scottish Government international development policies and objectives, contributes to tackling international crime at source and tackles human rights abuse, while at the same time promoting equality and diversity.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government said its International Development fund would increase from £9million-a-year to £10million from 2017, which it said was more tripling the finances available since 2008. A new £1 million per year Humanitarian Aid Fund will also be introduced during the next financial year.