The police corps of the eastern region of Twente will be the first in the Netherlands to be headed by a superintendent of foreign origin, sources close to the police have confirmed.

Surinam-born Martin Sitalsing, aged 47, came to the Netherlands in 1970. He is currently deputy superintendent in Friesland province; he used to be district police chief in Amsterdam.

His appointment is a direct result of Interior Minister Guusje ter Horst's policy of increasing ethnic and gender variety among top officials in the police force.