Recommendations on Policing in Multi-Ethnic Societies with the aim of de-escalating conflicts and of resolving them through mediation where possible and with minimal use of force. The management of public order is a key responsibility of police in a democratic State. In a multi-ethnic State, overt ethnic conflict is an acutely serious form of public disorder, as it threatens the very foundations of the social cohesion of the state. The capacity of the police to manage and resolve any such outbreaks of public disorder is therefore crucial for the maintenance of a successful multi-ethnic society. Specific training should be provided for police officers responsible for the management of civil disturbances and incidents of ethnic conflict, and detailed codes of practice should be drawn up relating to this task. (General guidance on training and codes of practice is provided under Recommendations 8-10 above.) When managing incidents of inter-ethnic conflict, the police need not only to be technically efficient, but also to maintain their legitimacy in the eyes of all groups and act at all times in accordance with international human rights. A key issue is the use of force by police. Although the police have the right to use force to resolve overt conflicts in accordance with the law, their professional aim should be to use the minimum amount of force necessary, and only to use it as a last resort. Alternative approaches such as mediation should be used wherever possible, and clear guidelines should be produced identifying the circumstances in which use of force is justified and how it should be exercised. 13 Police should always bear in mind that their actions are not separate from or 'outside' the dynamics of inter-ethnic relations: they are an integral part of an ongoing social and political process in a democratic State. As the agency of the state responsible for managing overt conflict internally, their actions may - at least in the short or medium term - have a crucial effect on the development of inter-ethnic relations and the future of the state generally. For these reasons their ability to maintain the confidence of all ethnic groups whilst managing conflicts and restoring public order is of fundamental importance. If they act in, or are perceived to act in, an ethnically partisan manner against minorities whilst carrying out this role, in the eyes of minorities their legitimacy for acting as representatives of the state will be destroyed. It is therefore essential that all police officers, whatever their ethnic background, act with strict professional integrity in dealing with situations of inter-ethnic conflict. 13 In approaching the use of force generally, the police should follow the UN Guidelines: Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement 0fficials, available at http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/h_comp 43.htm. 41