February 2006 minorities are less likely to report crime than those from other sections of society. If police are to be able to respond equally to crime against persons belonging to national minorities, then they need to ensure that these persons are as willing to report crimes as anyone else. Police also need to be equally efficient and professional in the way they record and investigate crimes against persons belonging to national minorities, and in bringing the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. Persons belonging to national minorities are only likely to report crimes to the police if they believe they will be treated with respect and that their allegations will be taken seriously. Police should make sure that persons belonging to national minorities, like all citizens, are kept regularly informed of the progress and outcomes of any cases in which they are involved as victims or witnesses. Research by criminologists consistently shows that the personal experience of victims of crime in their treatment by the police is one of the most powerful determinants of the level of trust and confidence in the police, not only among minorities but in all sections of the community. Research has shown that other factors affecting the level of reporting by minorities of crime are their knowledge about procedures for reporting crime and their understanding of the criminal justice system generally. The police can play a major role in increasing levels of knowledge and confidence among minorities, in particular, by seeking the co-operation of NGOs and community associations that can disseminate information about the reporting of crime, and encourage victims to report incidents and offer them support. Particular attention should be given to the need to ensure that such information and support reaches women in minority communities. Police should also take steps to ensure that minorities can report incidents in their own languages (see under Recommendation 13 above). Citizens will be more willing to report crime to the police when they believe that the police are doing a good job in protecting them from crime generally. States should encourage police and governmental authorities at local level to adopt and implement policies to promote 'community safety'. By 'community safety' is meant the goal of ensuring that the places where people live and work are free from crime, and that people feel secure both in their homes and as they go about their daily business in public places. NGOs and citizens should be actively involved in initiatives to ensure that their localities are safe places to live and work, and should be encouraged to cooperate with the police for this purpose. Minorities also need to be actively involved in such activities. Bringing together different ethnic groups with police at local level to work jointly on the promotion of community safety is a valuable method of furthering ethnic integration in a multi-ethnic society. 34