Recommendations on Policing in Multi-Ethnic Societies Training on minority issues and ethnic relations should be an integral part of initial training for police, and should be linked to themes such as human rights, community policing and a service-oriented approach. Although minority and ethnic issues should receive specific attention, they should not be separated off from the rest of the training: new recruits should be trained to carry out all policing tasks within a multiethnic environment as a matter of routine. Experienced police, however, should receive dedicated training on these subjects as part of their in-service training, particularly where the subjects have not been included in their previous training. For front-line police, such training should focus on actual operational tasks (patrol, investigation, arrest, etc.), and should be presented as a positive contribution to their ongoing professional development. Civilian staff, especially those who may be the first point of contact for members of the public, should be included in such programmes. Senior police who are responsible for management should also receive training on these subjects, but its focus should be different from training for police who provide (or directly supervise) front-line service delivery. While senior police need a general understanding of front-line policing issues, their training should focus on policy implementation, standard-setting and the management of organizational and cultural change, together with command responsibilities relating to the management of ethnic tensions and conflicts in the wider community. Contributors from minority communities are also an important resource for police training on issues relating to minorities and inter-ethnic relations. Police need to learn at first hand from minorities about relevant cultural and religious practices and about minority perceptions of the police. Training also provides the opportunity for personal interaction with members of minorities, and for engaging together in discussions, exercises and role plays (in which each can 'step into the other's shoes'). Successful participation in police training by minorities also builds bridges and increases minority understanding of and confidence in the police. Minorities should not just be invited to attend specific training sessions, but should be involved at all stages, including in the planning and evaluation of such sessions and in the initial process of identifying training needs. Police should develop regular partnerships with a broad range of minority associations so they can develop confidence and skill at meeting police training needs on minority and inter-ethnic issues. They should also ensure that minority contributors from these associations are diverse in age, gender and other 21