HUDDERSFIELD University is training Libyans on a forensic science course at Huddersfield University, but has rejected claims that more than 100 Libyan police officers are on it.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Peter Slee spoke out after weekend media reports claimed there were more than 100 Libyan police officers on the Masters course and that the deal to train them is worth around £4m.

The reports also say Libyan human rights activists in the UK are angry that police are being trained here and could use their new-found skills to oppress people in Libya once they return home.

They also claimed the course was getting technical help from security and forensic science company Axiom International and its executive chairman is Scotland Yard Commissioner Lord Stevens who would stand to gain from the deal.

But Prof Slee insisted that only 12 of the students are in Libya’s civil police and stressed that none are in the military.

He said the rest were students who had studied science degrees and were now upgrading to a Masters qualification on the 18-month course. Most are living in the Huddersfield area while studying here although some do commute from as far away as Manchester.

The students are now around five months into their course.

Prof Slee confirmed the course had been specially run for the Libyans and it was worth around £1m to the university.

He confirmed that Axiom was involved in the course, and that the university often ran such courses in close co-operation with outside companies to bring in extra expertise.

Prof Slee said: “There are 8,000 Libyan students in the UK and we have 103 on the Masters forensic science programme. Most universities offer some kind of training or education for Libyans.

“Every international student has to get a visa to study here and they are vetted by the relevant agencies. We have worked closely with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on this.

“The students are here legally, their status has been cleared and the authorities are happy for them to stay so it is not a big issue.’’

During his career, Lord Stevens led many high-profile investigations including the alleged collusion between the security Forces and Paramilitaries in Northern Ireland and the Metropolitan Police investigation into the allegation of conspiracy to murder Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al-Fayed.

In Libya the battle for control of the country continues to rage with fears growing over the impact of instability in the region on oil prices.

Fierce fighting was underway in the city of Zawiya, just 30 miles from the capital Tripoli, as rebels struggled to repel an assault by Gaddafi forces.

Meanwhile, insurgents were reported to have taken control of the key strategic oil port of Ras Lanuf.

A British diplomatic team, detained in the east of the country, have been freed. It is thought the men left Benghazi yesterday afternoon.

The team is believed to have included six SAS soldiers who had been escorting diplomats who were making contact with opposition leaders. The men were detained by rebels after arriving near Benghazi.