Policing in multi-ethnic societies

Interactions between police officers and national minorities can help or hinder inter-community relations. Police need to be responsive to the concerns and wishes of all ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious communities to guarantee a free and peaceful diverse society. The High Commissioner offers expertise on how police can deal sensitively with tense situations, encouraging authorities to include a minority aspect in law-enforcement structures and ensuring that police forces have the capacity to build lasting partnerships, based on trust, with all communities. This can require structural reform or targeted recruitment, training and professional support, constructive engagement with minority communities within community policing frameworks, operational practices, and building capacity for the prevention and management of conflict.