February 2006 18. When undertaking regular patrols in multi-ethnic areas, police should where possible deploy ethnically mixed teams in order to build public confidence and increase their operational effectiveness. Police should also ensure their tactics and appearance (e.g. numbers, visibility of weapons, choice of uniforms) are appropriate to the task and do not unnecessarily provoke fear and tension. 19. Police should ensure that anti-discrimination law is enforced vigorously and effectively. In particular, police should take steps to encourage the reporting of crimes motivated by ethnic hatred, and ensure that they are fully recorded and investigated. 20. States need to ensure that mechanisms to provide advice and support for victims of crime are equally accessible to and effective for persons belonging to national minorities. VI. PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CONFLICT 21. Police should be tasked and trained to play a proactive role in developing a relationship with minorities aimed at identifying and if possible reducing tensions which can lead to inter-ethnic conflicts. 22. Police also need to be trained and equipped to manage civil disturbances and incidents of inter-ethnic conflict in a professional and non-partisan manner, with the aim of de-escalating conflicts and of resolving them through mediation where possible and with minimal use of force. 23. Especially at the local level, police should co-operate closely with other public authorities to ensure their actions to prevent and manage inter-ethnic conflict are co-ordinated with wider action to promote the integration of minorities and to build a successful multi-ethnic society. Rj