February 2006 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. Whilst the management of overt ethnic conflict is the primary responsibility of the police, the prevention of such conflict and the resolution of tensions following its occurrence are tasks the police can and should contribute to, but not ones the police should address alone. Other public authorities also need to play a role, especially by taking the lead in addressing the underlying causes of such conflict. Which authorities need to be involved may depend to some extent on the nature of these causes: for example, in some situations where the conflict is linked to residential or property issues, housing authorities may be able to play a major role. A key role will be played by those authorities that have the capacity to bring together members of the different groups that are in conflict, to build bridges at the personal level, and to develop joint projects to advance common interests of various kinds. In the long run, education and especially education that brings together young people from the different groups - will play a crucial role, so that education authorities must also be seen as having a key role to play. In view of the importance of addressing these issues at the local level, local government will certainly have a major role. At both national and local levels, the police and other public authorities need to come together to develop specific strategies (including media strategies) to prevent ethnic conflict and ensure community cohesion in multi-ethnic societies. There are many instances where such conflict has developed, or has been exacerbated, primarily because those responsible did not recognize the signs early enough, did not have the commitment to act, or failed to act in an effective and co-ordinated manner. States need to ensure that they promote co-ordinated action by the relevant authorities at both national and local levels, and that this forms part of their wider strategies to promote the integration of minorities at all levels. Formal structures and partnerships will need to be established for this purpose. The role of the police needs to be recognized as integral to the process of building community cohesion in multi-ethnic societies, and police therefore need to be active partners in the process along with other public authorities and with representatives of national and ethnic minority groups. 42